Disclaimer: I do not own GA or PP.
"Do you not think you were a little tough of him?" Addison asked her an hour later after she had finally opened up about what had happened.
The whole gang was still sitting in the front room, Jacob now upstairs in bed. She look around at everyone who was giving her looks saying they agreed with Addison. She sighed, "I just… Can't. Not yet. He just… He hurts me every single time and I'm not sure that I can take that chance or make Jacob take that chance. When Jacob gets older, he can make that decision on his own, but right now, I can't do that."
"Okay," Addison put her hands up. "I respect your decision just like I have for three years. I'm not saying that I think it's the right one, I'm just saying I'm going to respect it. And, I'm going to say this; I have to go home the day after tomorrow. I still think you are better off here than LA. I'd still come and visit… But, Meredith look at this," she motioned to the other six people in the room. "This is the most people you've been around in three years. Now you tell me what you think the best choice is."
"The same one that I've known is the best choice all along," she answered, looking around. "Coming home. I'll have to go back and get packed up and of course annoy Dell a little, but I'll be coming back."
Izzie jumped up and ran over to Meredith, hugging her. Meredith had an entertained look on her face as the rest of the room clapped. Mark pulled her into a side hug with a grin on his face, "The dirty mistresses are together in one city again."
Meredith laughed and pushed him slightly. So, she'd made the decision to stay. Where she knew she should be. Where she'd spent her internship and started her residency. Now, all she had to do was convince herself to keep the decision she had made and let nothing change her mind about staying. Get through the obstacles that were sure to come her way.
What she had said. How she had said it. The tone she had in her voice. The tone of determination. It killed him. He felt sick. She had said they didn't need him. Did they really not? Had he screwed up, broken her, so bad that she's decided that she and their son don't need him. The words, they echoed in his head. Taunting him, haunting him. He deserved much, but did he deserve that? Having his son sheltered from him, hidden from him, kept from him? She had never come straight out and say that it was his son. But he could tell. How the baby looked. How she had acted when confronted.
And, Mark. Mark was the first name she had mentioned. Mark had been the one holding his crying son when he first saw the boy. Was Mark the father figure to the boy who didn't have one? Mark had seemed taken with the toddler. Trying to stop the crying and comfort him. Being like a father to his son.
Meredith came into the hospital again the next morning. Addison had decided since that for once it wasn't raining, she would take Jacob to the park and for ice cream today. This left Meredith to go and visit her father alone. Lexie had told her she'd be there later on, but she had to finish her rounds at least.
At noon, Lexie entered the room and came and sat quietly beside Meredith. They didn't speak a word for a few minutes, just stared at him. Finally, Meredith spoke up, "You know what you said on the first day? It's true. He's never been there for me. I didn't know him. And, when I did see him, finally, we didn't get along to say the least. But, still, I find myself sitting here. Feeling sorry for a man I didn't know and barely tolerated. And, mostly because half of his DNA is what makes me, me."
Lexie turned to respond but never got the chance as the machines started beeping. They looked at each other before both jumping up, being thrown into their Doctor Mode. Lexie ran over to him and Meredith ran over and hit the emergency button. Moments later, Derek entered along with a couple interns and Christina. Both Lexie and Meredith were pulled out of the room.
A couple minutes later, Christina came out with Derek. She stopped Derek before walking over to Lexie and Meredith herself. She merely shook her head. Meredith collapsed back into the chair she was standing in front of and Christina sat down beside her. Lexie, who was already sitting down on the other side of Meredith, had a few tears running down her face.
Derek watched this. Mark came into view and saw them. He made his way over there and laid a hand on her shoulder. He said something that Derek couldn't hear to her and she shot him a grateful smile before he turned and walked off. Derek shook his head and turned and walked off as well.
Meredith sat on the bench outside of the hospital. She'd went and saw Addison and told her she needed to watch Jacob a little while longer. When Addison had asked why, Meredith had told her what had happened. And, now she sat here. Outside the hospital. The hospital she had decided to return to. The hospital her mom, step-mom, now father had died at. The hospital where she'd met the love of her life at. The hospital where he'd broken her. The hospital where she found out she was pregnant.
Meredith looked up as he walked out. The whole reason she was sitting there. Waiting for him to come out. She stood up and Derek looked her way. He looked worn out and hurt. But it was etched into his face. Not just from one day.
She stood in front of him and took a deep breath, "He's yours. Okay? He's your son. He's got your eyes and your hair and your face and your laugh and your smile. He's yours. I found out right before you told me that you kissed the nurse."
He waited for her to continue, but she didn't. He looked her in the eyes, "But, you still don't need me? You are going to stand here and tell me he's mine and he's just like me, but you two still don't need me?"
"I can't risk it," she shouted before quieting down. "I can't risk it. I can't take you breaking me again, Derek. And, I'm not going to put him through that. When he gets older, if he wants to see you, get to know you, he can. He can make his own decision. I don't expect you to agree or even understand it; I just want you to accept it. We are here to stay. Well, once we go back and get packed and move everything down here, we are here to stay. So, you'll see him. But, you're not his father. You are just Derek for now."
He didn't respond so she turned and walked to her car. She got in a drove home, where she should be.
Ooookay, so, I was having her confront him and actually come out with it in this chapter… But I wasn't expecting me to have her father die. It just kinda happened when inspiration hit.
Advice for Ch. 7? Hmm, I'll need to sleep on it…
Possibilities: Responses. Reconsidering. Returning.