Title: The Sweetest Place on Earth
Summary: Two people leave the hospital tying to escape their past, but what happens when they run into each other. Meredith never chose between Derek and Finn she just couldn't so she didn't chose either. Derek and Addison are divorced. Addison and Mark are together and happy.
Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Grey's Anatomy or I would be watching it now. I don't own anything.
Note: Sorry I couldn't get this chapter up sooner. I had last minute Christmas shopping to do and wrapping. Then today I had to cook and back and Christmas traditions.
Thanksgiving Part 3
It was finally Thanksgiving Day. Meredith and Derek had managed to avoid their Seattle friends until they will see them later. They were rushing around Meredith's townhouse trying to get everything ready after sleeping late. They were meeting up at the restaurant at 3:00. Meredith had already got three calls from Alex that morning and it was only 9:00. Derek was busy with an emergency surgery that would be over by 11:00 so Meredith had to get everything together.
Her cell phone was ringing again that morning but on the caller ID it said it was Dani not Alex which Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. They were having trouble coming up with lies together as to why they couldn't go see her at her house.
"Hey Dani what's up" Meredith asked while trying to make cards that have the baby name choices on them.
"Hey Mer we are meeting up at 3:00 right." Dani was always forgetting things and depended on Meredith to remind her.
"Yeah and make sure everyone gets there before Derek and I do and that they don't know who Derek's family is or that I am pregnant." Meredith says thanking god that she has such great friends.
"Yeah but isn't Addison and Mark going to know them already."
"Um…Maybe she forgot what they look like or something." Meredith was hopping that his family didn't like Addison or they might pay more attention to her.
"I hope so."
"Yeah me to, I have to go Derek got called in for emergency surgery and I have to make the name choices cards myself."
"See you later Mer and in case I can't tell you later good luck with telling your friends."
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Izzie and Alex were in their hotel room getting ready for their Thanksgiving dinner with Meredith and her new friends. Izzie was pacing around the hotel room trying to get ready.
"Maybe we should call Meredith again. She might want to see us now." Izzie said. She really missed and was concerned for Meredith.
"She told me the last three times I called that she was busy until dinner and she will see us then." Alex was really trying to sound believable but was having trouble lying to Izzie.
"Okay I am going to call Cristina. I wonder if she and Burke made up. They are sharing a hotel room." The hotel had been completely booked so Burke and Cristina had to share a room the whole trip even though they didn't want to. "I think she said it was worse than when she had to go on the trip with his parents."
'That must be a pretty awkward hotel room." Izzie and Alex giggled at the thought of them sitting on opposite sides of the room not speaking.
"Yeah it must be."
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Stephanie and Peter were having a breakfast with their kids in the hotel. The kids are all talking vividly about the fun they were having and Aunt Meredith. As the waitress was bringing them their food Stephanie looked over to the bar and saw some she never thought she would have to see again. She kicked Peter under the table and he looked up at the bar. As he was looking at the bar another person who he recognized comes up to that person.
"Is that Addison and Mark." Peter whispered to Stephanie so that the kids couldn't hear. The last thing they wanted was to explain what they were doing in Hershey.
"Yeah I think that is them. What are they doing here?"
"I have no idea. I hope they don't see us. Get the check honey." They quickly paid the bill and left the restaurant. When they were leaving they were not noticed by Addison or Mark.
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Patricia and Bryan Shepherd were the first ones to arrive at the restaurant for dinner. They couldn't wait to see Meredith and Derek again. Today they were finding out if they were having another granddaughter or grandson.
The second ones to arrive at the restaurant were Claire and her husband Roger and their three kids Alanna, who is seven, Brett, who is five, and Brianna, who is three years old. They made small conversation with Patricia and Bryan but not talking about Meredith's pregnancy and Derek. That didn't want to talk about it incase their Seattle friends show up early.
The next ones to arrive were Meredith's interns Lindsey, Ava, Nick, Sarah, and Tony. They sat down at the table waiting for everyone to show up. They had all become good friends just like Meredith and her friends she interned with still were. They didn't say much to Derek's parents or Claire but were friendly.
The next one to arrive was Bailey, Tucker, and William. They sat down next to Meredith's interns and chatted away waiting for everyone else.
"So are you Meredith's interns?" Bailey asked trying to be nice because after all it was a holiday and she wasn't working.
"Yeah, she is great. One time I scrubbed in on this rare surgery and it was awesome." Tony said he really admired Meredith's ability to take control over a situation inside the OR.
"Well that is just great." She turned when she saw another family walk up to the table with seven kids and sat near Patricia and Bryan. "Who are they?" She asked the clueless interns.
"I think that is her boyfriend's family. We are supposed to get a formal introduction when everyone gets here." Explained Ava who was as always on top of things.
Stephanie and Peter arrived at the table. She was hopping they wouldn't scare anyone away with her seven kids. They were all be well behaved so far. Her eleven year old triplets sat down closest to their grandparents. Little talking was done between William, Charlie, and Joey. Then she pointed seat out for Mabelle, Florence, and Henry between her and her husband. Last she put Ianna in a high chair near her.
"I am Stephanie Derek's older sister." Her mother gave her a face which was all she needed not to elaborate on the situation which was a surprise.
Dani came to the table next and talked with everyone. Stephanie and she were talking about various things until she brought up her pregnancy.
"Oh are you pregnant too." That was when she knew she said too much and was getting a weird look from Miranda Bailey. "It is like a trend in Hollywood to get pregnant now." She said trying to cover up her mistake.
Izzie, Alex, and George came down next. They remembered Meredith's interns and were talking to them and Dani. They all got into a discussion about medicine and almost didn't notice it when Rose, Abbey, Becca, Lauren, Kyle, and Jon sat down. They joined the conversation practically unnoticed about the Grey Method.
Hannah and Elizabeth came to the table next. Ethan and Trey were walking along side their wives. Ethan had Emily in her arms and was quickly passed over to sit in her grandmother's lap. Erin, Eric, and Ella were walking behind with Bryant, Hayden, and Carly. Trey was holding two year old twins Chelsea and Bryce in his arms before putting them in high chairs. They engaged in conversation with Claire who they seemed to have a lot in common with.
The room fell dead silent when Ellis Grey and Richard Webber entered the room. Izzie, Alex, George, and Bailey never met Ellis even though they knew Meredith for a little more than a year before she left. The old interns fell dead silent to see their previous chief of surgery, recently divorced, holding hands with surgical legend Ellis Grey. At that moment they knew she had something important to tell if she got her mother to come. Meredith and Derek's doctor friends became silent because they were having a meal with a surgical legend who happened to be someone they are friends with mother. Derek's parents were the first to speak not realizing who she was except Meredith's mother.
"Are you Meredith's mother?" Patricia asked her not seeing any of the doctors' mouths literally hanging open.
"Yes I am and you must all be related to Derek." She said interested in them.
'Yes you must be so proud of her. Derek says what a great doctor she is and becoming."
"Yes for that and other things in her life. I am very proud of her. Let me introduce myself I am Ellis Grey and this is my boyfriend Richard Webber." The look in Derek's mother and father's eyes they had connected the pieces of him being the old boss and mentor that Derek always talked about and in a sense hated for calling Addison to Seattle.
"I am Patricia and this is Bryan." They both knew the news Meredith wanted to tell so they left off their last name.
Cristina and Burke came to the restaurant next. The tension was felt in the air as they sat down. They were still not talking and didn't look like they were going to make up any time soon. Neither of them seemed to notice anyone else in the restaurant but themselves.
"When is Meredith going to get here?" Cristina asked to no one special. Nobody knew the answer to her question.
Cameron and James came walking in slowly behind there kids who were anxious to get to eating and then back to doing things in their room. Adrianna, Lillie, and Wayde didn't really say anything to anyone but smiled at Meredith's mother.
Kristi and Alex came into the restaurant not able to stop laughing at something their daughter told them in the elevator. Shauna and Samantha sat down next to Adrianna they were talking right away about what happened on the last episode of Lost. Terence and Trent sat down next to William, Charlie, and Joey and talked about video games. Dakota took a seat next to Erin the two of them were almost as close as sisters. Ohanna sat next to her parents but occasionally talking to Florence or one of the five year old boys.
Addison and Mark planned to be fashionable late and were talking at the bar. She thought if she was late she would be the center of attention. She always liked taking the attention off of Meredith if even for just a minute.
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Meredith was getting nervous. Today she was going to find out what her closest friends in the world thought about her and Derek's relationship and their daughter. She was going to tell them over Thanksgiving dinner which had 65 people counting them attending. She hoped they all liked the name choices she came up with. They planned to arrive just as the food was being served and then talk about the baby and their relationship all through dinner. They guys and anyone else who wanted to go was going back to Meredith's house after dinner for the football game. The next day everyone at the dinner agreed to go to Hershey Park for their Christmas celebration and drive through sweet lights after dark. She thought his little nieces and nephews would like.
"Mer are you nervous." Derek asked on the way to the hotel.
"I am but it's now or never." She gave a nervous smile and placed her hand on her belly.
"I'm afraid of what Cristina is going to say about us. She never really liked me." Derek said hoping it wasn't true.
"That was only because you hurt me and I was upset. I am happy with you now she will probably like you." She gave him a smile and he kissed her quickly on the lips before turning back to the rode.
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Everyone was getting restless waiting for Meredith to arrive. Their friends from Seattle wanted to know what the surprise was and everyone else wanted to know their reactions and if there was going to be a new girl or boy in the world.
"Where is she now?" Cristina asked who was now getting pissed off at Meredith along with Burke.
"I wish she would get here soon. She is going to miss the food." George said anxiously awaiting Meredith and her news.
"She will get here when she gets here." Alex said trying to defend Meredith without mentioning her news.
They all sit quiet for a few minutes and the dinner is served to the table. One of the waitresses gets Alex and says he has a call at the front desk of the hotel and it was important he goes right away. Alex had a look of surprise on his face wondering who would call him at the hotel and not his cell phone but leaves the restaurant.
When he gets to the hotel's front desk he sees Meredith and Derek sitting in the lobby. He walks over to them and sits in a chair opposite of them.
"Is the food served yet?" Meredith asked wanting to know if they should go in yet.
"Yeah they just served it. I think everyone started eating. You might want to go in soon Cristina is getting mad and George is getting nervous."
"We will join you guys in about five minutes. Tell them it was me and we were five minutes away. Actually no that I was five minutes away with my surprises.
Alex left them in the lobby and went back to the restaurant. He was going to have to lie again but at least he had a good excuse that they would be there soon.
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Five minutes later Meredith and Derek left the lobby to go face their friends and family and celebrate the holiday. Derek grabbed Meredith's hand to give himself confidence and her. They walked over into the private room there party was in and took a deep breath their lives were going to be different after this moment.
They walked into the room hand and hand. Together they stood as they watched Cristina's, Izzie's, George's, and Bailey's mouths drop. They stared at Meredith and Derek and at her stomach. Meredith was glad that her friends in Hershey, his family, and her mother and Richard knew before the dinner or she would have way too many shocked family members and friends.
Cristina was the first to speak after about five minutes of Meredith and Derek just standing there. "You're pregnant and you are dating McDreamy. Is it his baby?"
"Cristina" was all Meredith could say to her friend.
"Wow Mer congratulations I guess. Are you okay you look kind of pale?" Izzie said with concern on her face.
Derek pulled her chair out and ushered her over. "Sit Mer this has been a stressful day for you."
No one noticed Addison and Mark come and sit at the table. All eyes were still on Meredith and Derek. The truth is no one probably noticed.
"How come you lied to us Mer?" George asked kind of mad.
She looked over at her friend who seemed jealous of Derek. "I was going to tell all of you in person together. I planned on telling on Christmas and then Alex said you were coming to visit."
"Did Alex know?" Izzie said trying to stay calm but one of her best friends lied to her for months.
Alex didn't want to lie any longer and looked over at Meredith who slightly nodded her head for him to tell the truth. "I found out when I hugged her in the hospital. I was around pregnant women so long during internship and then in plastics I could just tell. Plus she was glowing and clearly happy. I just guessed that it was with Derek." His friends looked a mix of shocked and hurt that Meredith trusted him with her secret and not them.
"He has been supportive ever since and I hope you guys are to." As Meredith was saying this George got up and left the restaurant. Meredith got up to go after him but was stopped by Izzie.
"You should let him cool off for a while. So what was your other news?" Izzie said suddenly happier hoping to get the next piece of gossip.
"Well Derek and the baby. We're also going to tell you guys the baby's gender and have you help pick out a name." Meredith smiled at Derek.
"What are the choices Mer?" Cristina asked suddenly interested in the conversation.
"Well you have to chose between Lacey Victoria, Arielle Evangeline, Vienna Alena, or last but not least Pamela Renee." She saw the faces of friends and family that were delighted to help with the naming.
"Well not Pamela or Vienna I just don't like them for some reason." Hannah said liking they had a choice in there new relative. "I personally like Lacey Victoria."
"I think Aunt Izzie could bake cupcakes with an Arielle or a Lacey. Either way she is going to be super smart and pretty." Izzie said already planning on what she could do with the baby.
Everyone else in the group seemed to agree that Lacey and Arielle were the best name choices. Derek and Meredith decided to keep the name they chose a secret until the baby was finally born. Meredith talked about how excited she and Derek are and how the crib is already built with help from her mother and Richard.
Meredith was also worried about George he still hadn't come back. She knew how hard he had taken it when Callie told him about Mark. She just hoped he would come around before Christmas.
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In the car on the way to Meredith's house after the meal Derek and Meredith got to talking.
"Mer, do you want to move back to Seattle? I am sure Preston would let us have are jobs back." Derek said wanting to do the right thing for Meredith and his daughter.
"We have contracts here until September and I don't want to break them. I am also not sure that I am ready to move back. We will have to see when the time comes." As Meredith was talking she couldn't look Derek in the eye. She just stared at the ground wondering what was best for the baby in a year. She knew what was best for both of their careers and she knew the schools were great but could she leave behind her friends after just having a baby.
Maybe more later today. Thanks for the reviews. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Hopefully after Christmas I will be able to update everyday again.