She was close to insanity. Dangerously close. She loved her. She really did. But it was getting to be too much. Too much caring. Too much concern. She was being far too helpful. Far too clingy. She had to make sure everything was just so. It had to be perfect. Meredith had to be comfortable. It was too much. Meredith couldn't take it, she had to shake her off.
"Anna..." Meredith whispered. "I bet grandma would love to see your pony again." She said as she looked over at Evelyn who was washing the dishes from the dinner that she had just made.
"Mommy...I know what your doing." She said as she shook her head in disgust.
"What do you mean?" Meredith asked innocently as she looked over at the old woman, working obsessively.
"You just wanna get rid of grandma." Anna said with a giggle. "I will take her. But you owe me." Anna replied as she walked over to Evelyn.
"Grandma? Will you take me out to see my pony?" She said as she cocked her head and asked sweetly.
"Of course, as long as your mommy is okay." She said as she looked over at Meredith.
"Oh! I'm fine." Meredith said as she walked into their large kitchen. "In fact, I will finish the dishes." Meredith said as she stepped in front of the sink.
"Oh no, dear. You need to rest." She said as she looked at Meredith.
"That's all I have done all day." Meredith said as she stuck her hands in the warm water.
"Meredith. I am warning you." She said as she glared at her.
"Fine!" She said in a huff as she wheeled around and walked away. "And just what do you expect me to do?"
"Oh, dear. Don't be angry. I just don't want you to overdo it. You aren't that far away from your due date. And I am positive you will be early." She said as she looked over at Meredith who had an impossible time getting herself into a comfortable position.
"I hate sitting here. I hate it." She pouted as she sat on the sofa.
She leaned over to pick up her recent issue of Cosmo and frowned. She looked at the cover. No sex. Addison said no sex. She wasn't suppose to want it. She was huge. Gigantic. She was uncomfortable. But yet she wanted him. She really wanted him. She threw the magazine back on the table and laid her head back. She heard the garage door open. Derek was home. Finally. He was home. She nearly sprung off the sofa.
"Derek." She said in desperation. "I missed you." She said as she pulled him close and kissed him.
"I missed you too." He said as he kissed her back.
"Derek, dear." Evelyn said as she walked into the living room. "How was your day?"
"Daddy." Anna said with a big grin.
"Hey baby." He said as he patted her on the head. "My day was great." Derek said enthusiastically.
"Grandma was going to take me out to the barn." Anna said as she grabbed Evelyn's hand.
"Oh. Well, I could take you, if grandma doesn't want to." He suggested as he looked up. Meredith glared. Not your average glare. An I want to kill you, glare. "Or not. In fact, I'm sure Anna has things to show you." Derek said, praying she would take the bait.
"Only if you take care of your wife." Evelyn said as she looked up at them both.
"I think I can handle that." Derek said with an agreeing nod as he glanced at a relieve Meredith.
"Okay then. Anna let's go." She said as she slid on her shoes and they walked out the door.
"She has to go." Meredith growled out loudly. Derek looked at her with wide eyes in shock. "She has to go..." She cried out as she laid her head against his chest. "She has to go..." She said as she began to sob.
"Mer... What's wrong?" He said as he stroked her back.
"What's wrong?" She yelled as she pulled away. "She's everywhere. No honey, don't do that. I will help you. You look cold, let me cover you up. How are you feeling? Can I get you a drink? Are you hungry? Oh dear, you need to eat. You need to put your feet up. You need to take a nap! I can't take it!" She screamed loudly. Derek stood there, unsure of what to say.
"She does it because she cares." He said as he cocked his head.
"I know. I know that! And I love her, I do. I love her like my own mother. More. I love her more. But I can't take this. She has to go, Derek. I can't stay here like this. I'm in a fucking prison." She cried out.
"Mer--" He said as he looked up at her tear stained face.
"No. I am ready to break my water. I am ready to break my water, just to get her ass out of my house!" She said quickly.
"I'll see what I can do." He said with a sigh.
"Sure you will." She said as she rolled her eyes. "I'm going to go take a bath. I'm sure that's what your mother would want." She said as she stalked up the stairs.
Derek didn't talk to his mom. He was a chicken. When it came to mama Shepherd, he wouldn't stand up. No one would. He ate his dinner alone. At the dinner table. He expected Meredith to come down, she didn't. She was mad. She was mad and now he had to deal with it.
Derek left Evelyn in the great room watching television. He told her he was tired. It was a lie. He just couldn't sit there with her. She was his mother. And he left home at eighteen for good. Never to live there again. And now it felt like he was back. Derek put Anna to bed and slowly walked to his room. Meredith was laying there in the bed, reading a book.
She looked up at him. It was a scowl. A definite scowl. He didn't say a word. Not yet. It was still far too dangerous. He walked in the bathroom and turned the shower on. This was worse than he thought. She really was angry. He should have known. It happened with every one of his sister's pregnancies. Mama Shepherd took over.
Derek walked out of the shower. The door was open. Meredith watched the water drip down his solid body. The water drizzled down his chest. Moving down his hip and to his groin. She watched as he grabbed a towel. She was willing him with her mind to not cover himself up. She just wanted to watch, enjoy the view. He did it. He tied the towel around his waist. She quickly went back to her book, glancing up every few minutes.
He walked out of the bathroom and to his bureau, and dropped his towel. There her eyes travelled. Up his leg, resting on the promised land. She wanted him. She wanted him in the worst way. But it was a no. She couldn't. She wasn't allowed. Finally she realized he wasn't moving. Her eyes finally met his. He had a huge grin on his face. He knew what she was looking at. He laughed even louder when she let out a growl and threw her book on the table, shutting off the light.
"Mer..." He said as he laid down in the bed next to her, wrapping his arm around her.
"I am not talking to you!" She said firmly.
"Seriously?" He said with a chuckle.
"Seriously." She said firmly as she closed her eyes and huffed. Derek silently chuckled to himself. Hormones.
--------------------
Derek laid there. He had office at nine. It was only seven. he had plenty of time to just laze in the bed. And that's what he wanted to do. He wanted to lay there in the silence of their room. Away from his mom. he too was hiding. She there he laid, looking at his wife. Meredith could feel his gaze on her. He was burning a hole through her head with his eyes. He had been for awhile.
"What?" She snapped without opening her eyes.
"Oh, now we're talking?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Oh yeah... No we're not." She said as she grabbed a spare pillow and covered her head.
"Mer..." He said as he pulled the pillow off of her.
"No. No Mer. Why don't you go downstairs? I'm sure your mother has prepared a wonderful breakfast for you." She said with a scowl.
"Funny. Really." He said with a groan. "She's my mom. I can't say anything to her. Ask Drew. You don't tell her. She tells you." He explained, she finally opened her eyes.
"It's been awhile, I know... But did your balls fall off? Did I miss that memo?" She said as she looked at him.
"I still have balls. Big balls." He grumbled. "Fine. If that's what you want...fine. I'll tell her. I'll break her heart."
"No. Fine. It's fine. Whatever." She said with a huff. "I'm just tired. I'm so tired. And my back hurts. And my feet hurt."
"Well, let me rub your back." He said with a smile.
"You can't. I can't lay on my stomach, it just makes my damn back hurt more." She moaned. Derek went down to the end of the bed and began rubbing her feet.
"You don't have much longer." He said with a smile.
"I know." She said with a smile.
"I could cancel my office visits today." He suggested as he kneaded her feet.
"I'll be fine." She said as she rolled onto her back. "I just need to learn to embrace your mother, that's all." She told him with a sigh.
"She really does care. You don't know how guilty she would feel if something happened and she wasn't here." He explained.
"I know." She said as she closed her eyes. "I'm just going to stay in bed today, if that's okay." She said softly.
"You are on bed rest." He said quickly.
"I know, but I feel lazy staying up here. But I can't go down there." She said as she closed her eyes and pulled the covers up to her chin.
"I will let her know." He said as he crawled up to her. "Thank you."
"For what?" She said without opening her eyes.
"For doing this. For sacrificing yourself for our children." He said as he bent down and kissed her forehead.
"I love you." She said as she pulled him down to her lips.
"I love you too." He said as he kissed her softly. He went through his morning routine, and then changed his clothes.
"I'll be home as early as I can." He said as walked out.
"Okay." She said as she rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.
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Two weeks. Meredith had two weeks until her due date. Evelyn was still in the house, driving everyone crazy. Even Anna was complaining about how grandma never left. Derek wanted to be home with his wife, but being away from Evelyn was better at this point. Meredith was right. She picked. Picked at this. Picked at that. It was never ending. And Derek was feeling the push. And he was getting close to pushing back.
"I think Meredith is depressed." Evelyn said as she sat down with Derek at the dinner table. It was nine o'clock. He had gotten stuck in an emergency surgery. Anna was already in bed.
"Why would you say that?" Derek said, slightly defensively.
"Well, she sleeps all day. Non stop. All day. Then she snaps at me. She's always snapping at me. She cries then yells. But this sleeping thing. It worries me." Evelyn said with concern. Derek could feel the anger boiling.
"She's pregnant, mom." He said loudly.
"Oh. And that's an excuse? Derek, if there is a problem, we need to fix it now. I would hate for her to do something." She said softly. "And you haven't been so pleasant yourself."
"Damn-it, mom! Meredith is not depressed. She's pregnant! She is ready to pop. This is her first pregnancy, and it's with twins. Her back hurts. Her feet hurt. Her body aches. She's tired. And you nag. Nag, nag, nag! Non stop. She needs to rest. Not be nagged and have you asking her every fucking question in the book. If she needs a blanket, she will get it! Or she'll ask. She knows how to talk. And if she needs something, she will ask you. And as to her snapping? I wonder why! And it doesn't help that neither of us have had sex in three weeks, and damn-it I just want my wife!" He yelled as he looked at her teary eyes.
"I'm sorry...I-- I'm sorry." She said as she stood up and walked upstairs. Meredith crept around the corner.
"Derek!" She said in shock. "You apologize to your mother!" She said as she walked up and smacked him softly.
"What? Isn't that what you wanted?" He said as he looked at her.
"I wanted you to explain to her. Not send her tears." She said with a frown. "You yelled at her."
"She deserved it." He grumbled as he pushed her plate away.
"She did not. You made good points, but you yelled. And it wasn't for me. It was because you are in a shitty mood." She said frankly as she grabbed his dishes.
"I am not in a shitty mood." He told her.
"You are. I know you want sex. I know you need it. I'm sorry. But it's only two months long to wait if I last until my due date." She said as she began washing dishes.
"Two months! Two months!" He said angrily.
"Fine. I'll have sex with you. I mean, no big deal, right? Forget what Addison said." She said as she sat the dry dishes on the counter and grabbed his hand.
"Meredith..." He said, realizing how foolish he was being.
"No. I'll screw your brains out, right now." She said as she pulled him.
"I'm sorry." He said as he rested his head on her chest. "I'm so sorry." She ran her fingers through her hair.
"No more kids." She said firmly.
"Not that I don't love them... It's just overwhelming." He said with a sigh.
"It will get easier." She said with a smile.
"I hope so." He said as he listened to her heart beat. "For once, you are the one making me think straight." He said with a chuckle.
"The world is in trouble now." She said with a giggle. "Now go apologize to your mom. Then go to bed. Just because I can't enjoy, doesn't mean you can't." She said as she grazed his pants with her hand.
"Mer..." He said with a sigh.
"Go!" She said firmly. She smiled as he slowly walked up the stairs. She rubbed her hands on her stomach. They needed to come soon.
-------------------
Meredith had a plan. She felt guilty about wanting to get rid of Evelyn, but she had to. She needed some space. She needed to breathe. She needed to be able to walk around the house naked if she wanted to. And damn-it she had a plan.
It was early. Evelyn had already cooked breakfast for Derek, Anna and Meredith. She had put Jane out of a job. Derek even upped Jane's pay to make up for the time lost. All they needed was Jane finding another job. Doing the barn only took a few hours, and Evelyn had taken over everything domestic.
So it was Evelyn doing everything. And Meredith had a plan. Evelyn had to put her make-up on. She didn't do anything without make-up. It was at the same time every morning. Right after Derek left. Meredith heard her go upstairs as she stared at the t.v.
The plan was in action. Meredith quickly went to the kitchen. Milk. The gallon was full. Not anymore. She quickly poured the majority of it out. She placed the jug back in the refrigerator. Orange juice. Now that was low. She poured all of that out, and threw the container in the trash. Eggs. Oh no...just one left. Meredith laughed as she cracked eggs. What else? Bananas. She threw those in the bottom of the trash. Cocoa... Goodbye. She quickly rushed to the great room and sat back down.
"Mom?" She yelled from the sofa.
"Yes, dear?" She said as she came down the stairs.
"Can I have a glass of orange juice?" Meredith asked with an evil grin.
"Of course, dear. You need your vitamin C." She said as she rushed into the kitchen. "Oh no." Meredith heard her say.
"What's wrong?" She asked softly.
"Oh nothing. I thought we were out of orange juice, but here is some in the freezer." Evelyn said with a smile.
"Oh..." Meredith said with disgust.
"What's wrong?" Evelyn asked as she walked in.
"I need Tropicana. Anything else makes my stomach burn." She said with a sour face.
"Oh..." Evelyn said with a frown.
"This isn't good. Hmm... Hey, can you make that great chocolate cake today? That sounds good..." She said with a grin.
"Of course. We have everything. In fact, I'll make it right now." She said as she bent down and kissed Meredith's head. "You are a wonderful daughter." If you only knew.
"Oh no! We have no milk, eggs, or cocoa. I know we had eggs and milk! I used them this morning. What the heck!" She said loudly as she moved things around in the refrigerator.
"I really wanted that cake..." Meredith said with a moan.
"Hmm... How are you feeling?" Evelyn asked as she walked into the room.
"Fine. Great even." Meredith said with a smile.
"Do you think you would be okay while I ran to the store?" She asked with a look of uneasiness.
"Hmm... How long?" Meredith asked, pretending she didn't want her to.
"Oh, an hour." Evelyn said quickly.
"I'm sure I will be fine. I'll get you some money. You may as well pick up everything we need." Meredith said, knowing that she was going to make a huge list.
"Let me finish putting my make-up on." Evelyn said as she walked upstairs. Meredith smiled when she heard her rush back down.
"Okay dear." She said as she gathered her purse and Meredith's keys. "I won't be gone long." She said as she kissed Meredith on the head.
"Okay. I'll be fine." Meredith said softly. She heard the garage door open. She was free! Her plan actually worked. Now what to do?
Nothing. She could barely move. She was a beached whale. Literally. She tried to stand up, but it seemed harder than ever. Her feet were aching. Her body hurt. Oh well. At least she was free. Now she had some peace and quiet. Some time to hear herself think. Then it hit. Another contraction. Her back. Her stomach. It hurt and it hurt bad.
She had been having them on and off for the last few days. It was normal. She knew it was normal. But this one was harder. This one hurt. She slowed her breathing. In through her nose. Out through her mouth. She laid back when it stopped. That one was strong. Really strong. She closed her eyes, thanking god it was over. Then she heard a knock at the door.
Meredith moaned. Maybe she could just ignore it. There it was again. And again. And then the doorbell. Crap. She slowly rolled herself off of the couch. Her feet killed her when they hit the floor. She walked slowly to the door, her huge stomach was now almost immobilizing. She neared the door and put her hand on the handle. She could see a large figure through the frosted glass. She opened the door. Her heart stopped. She stared. Her heart went to her throat. Her stomach in knots. She looked at him. Not now. She slammed the door. Neither speaking.
"Oh my God." She moaned as she grabbed her stomach. It hurt. Oh God did it hurt. She held to her stomach tightly. She could feel the pressure. This was bad. She looked at the door. He was still there. She cried out in pain as she opened the door. "I need help." She moaned in desperation. Splash.
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