"So how is the whole custody thing going?" Izzie asked as she and Meredith were grocery shopping with Ella. Izzie, George and Alex had moved out of Meredith's house after Ella was born, but they still lived together close by.
"There is a hearing tomorrow," sighed Meredith.
"What happens there?"
"Our lawyers bitch to a judge and he decides if Derek should get temporary access," said Meredith.
"Are you alright?" asked Izzie concernedly.
"I'm fine, I just never wanted it to be like this. I guess I was stupid to think that Derek would never find out, and that if he did he would just go away and leave us alone."
"He's been in such a mood at work, he won't let any of us scrub in," said Izzie.
"I'm sorry," said Meredith, throwing random things into her shopping cart. "You shouldn't be punished for what I'm doing."
"It's fine," said Izzie. "To be honest, it's probably for the best. Alex seems to be taking the role of 'Uncle Alex' seriously, I thought he was going to knock Derek out after the fight you had with him."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously," laughed Izzie.
"He does seem a little…softer around her," said Meredith, looking down at her sleeping daughter. "Cristina too."
"Yeah, it's definitely weird having a baby in the group. Especially one that looks so much like McDreamy," said Izzie, without thinking. "Sorry."
"Don't be, it's true. She does look like Derek," said Meredith.
Just then, Izzie's pager started to beep.
"It's the hospital, I have to go," said Izzie apologetically.
"Go," said Meredith, understanding completely. "I'll see you later."
"You must love this whole maternity leave!" Izzie shouted on her way out of the grocery store.
"Yeah I do," laughed Meredith.
--------------------------------------------
"Crap," said Meredith as one of her bags fell onto the ground in the parking lot. She now remembered why she had brought Izzie: she couldn't get the bags, the stroller, Ella and herself to the car.
"Here, let me help you," said a man's voice as he picked up the bag that had fallen.
"Oh, thank you," said Meredith gratefully.
"Meredith?"
"Finn!" said Meredith, who nearly fell over from shock. Finn was the last person she was expecting to see.
"Hi, how are you?" he said pleasantly.
"Hi, I'm good. How are you?"
"Yeah, I'm good," said Finn, carrying her bag to her car. "And who is this?"
"Oh… this is my daughter, Ella," said Meredith.
"Oh, so you and Derek are…"
"Not together… he has a girlfriend," said Meredith quickly.
"But he is…"
"Yeah he's her father, it's a long complicated story," Meredith sighed.
"Well she's beautiful," said Finn, placing the bags into Meredith's car.
"Thank you, and thank you for helping."
"My pleasure," said Finn, smiling kindly.
"Can I buy you a cup of coffee? You know, as a thank you?" said Meredith.
"I don't know if that is such a good idea," said Finn hesitantly.
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry I asked," said Meredith. "For what it's worth, you were right about Derek."
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to be right."
"It's fine, I'm over it now," shrugged Meredith.
"I was sorry to hear about your mother too," he said gazing down at her as if he was searching for something.
"Thank you," said Meredith touched that he would care after how she treated him.
"I guess we could have a cup of coffee," said Finn. "You know… to catch up."
"I'd like that."
"Well, I've really got to run now but I'll call you. Still the same number?"
"Yeah," said Meredith.
"Goodbye, Meredith."
"Bye, Finn."
"Bye, Ella."
OOoooooh Finn is back. I wonder how Derek will react to that...actually I'm not wondering I already know because I have written up to Chapter 6 and I'm about to start chapter 7 right now.
Review lots for another quick update!