for all those patient readers and reveiwers.

Chapter 24 – I Cried

Meredith felt tears form in her eyes.

She knew what was about to happen. She could read it form their faces. She could see the sorrow in Richard's eyes, the sympathy in Bailey's and the tears in Addison's. She knew what they were going to do. She knew the pain it would cause.

Her father stood from his place next to her. He too had tears in his eyes but they had been there from the start.

Susan was in emergency surgery and now… Meredith knew what was about to happen.

Addison moved forward, she wasn't in scrubs, she wasn't involved in the surgery, but Meredith had made sure she was in the gallery watching. Addison took her hand and Meredith stood up and stepped next to her father.

"Mr. Grey, Meredith-"

"No." Meredith said, cutting Bailey off, "No I… Addie. Addie you tell me."

Addison nodded, and swallowed, she didn't know what to say but she knew Meredith needed this, she knew it had to come from her, "They... they did everything they could…"

Meredith let the tears fall, Thatcher looked at Meredith, "You... you said it was really simple and that it was this... small thing."

Addison opened her mouth, "It was." Thatcher slapped her,

"She had the hiccups." He ranted looking between his daughter and her fiancée and Bailey and Richard, "She came here... Because... because she trusted you. I trusted you."

Addison had a red hand print across her cheek, Meredith looked at her with wide eyes, she looked at her father and she knew she had to get away. She dropped Addison's hand and ran off.

Derek had seen the whole thing he moved in and tried to stop her, "Meredith, just stop...okay, just stop."

"No, don't. Don't." she cried, "Let go." With a sigh Derek let Meredith run away, he looked over at Addison, she had tears dripping down her face, she moved forward,

"Don't even try to stop me Derek," Derek didn't move, he just Addison pass and run after Meredith.

The church was small, filled with rows of people that Susan had befriended over the course of her life. At the front sat Thatcher who Meredith could tell was drunk as he slumped against Molly. Next to Molly was a tall man with grey hair, Susan's father, he was holding baby Laura as next to him his wife, Susan's mother, cried softly.

Meredith sat with Addison in a pew to the back, neither of them were crying. Addison was saddened by the loss; Susan was good for Meredith, good for her. She could have become something special in their lives, a grandmother to their children, and a mother to Meredith, to her. Bizzy Forbes-Montgomery wasn't exactly Mother of the Year material.

Meredith's hand was holding Addison's rather tightly, lying in the red head's lap as the ceremony went on and Meredith saw her younger sister for the first time.

Lexie Grey looked a lot like Meredith, but it was subtle. It was the way her eyes sparkled, the way she laughed as she spoke of a fond memory, the way she held her self and tried to hide her pain. Addison looked at the girl, she couldn't be much younger then Meredith, which caused her to wonder about Thatcher and Susan's relationship. But she didn't ponder that for long; she just squeezed Meredith's hand softly and tried to calm her.

Meredith looked at her sister. She was kind, like Susan. Short chocolate brown hair that reached just under her chin line, brown eyes filled with unrecognised tears, a soft smile as she spoke of her mother.

The service finished, Molly's husband and three of Susan's nephews carried her coffin outside followed by Molly and Lexie who were both helping Thatcher walk, then Susan's parents and her sister who was now holding little Laura. Molly looked at Meredith and Addison then spoke softly to Lexie before moving away from her family to the edge of the pew Meredith and Addison were sitting in.

"Come with us." Was all she said,

Addison nodded and stood, Meredith did as well a bit hesitantly but the two walked with Molly out of the church and into the back of Molly's car either side of Laura in the baby seat.

No one spoke as Eric drove the car to the cemetery; Meredith started to cry now, unable to seek comfort in holding her fiancée's hand. She felt horrible. She had started to love Susan, to consider her as what she was, her step-mother.

They arrived at the cemetery and walked through head stones to the place Susan would be laid to rest. Everyone stood around the grave and Susan's sister, Angie spoke softly, "I think we should all take a turn to say something about her. Something nice or happy. A good memory."

"I think you're right Mum," spoke one of Susan's nephews, "I'll go first." He cleared his throat and looked down at the beautiful arrangement of flowers lying on the coffin, "Aunt Susan always spoiled us, and she gave hugs when we were upset, kissed our knees and told us how much she loved us all the time. She was the only one I would let get away with calling me by my full name, 'Thomas Peter Ellison' she would say, sometimes if I was in trouble, but sometimes when she wanted to comfort me. She was the best aunt I could hope for." Tom said with a smile,

Tom's brother nodded and began to speak, "I think Tom said it all really, Aunt Susan was the best. I remember one time when I tried to show her a magic trick and broke on of her vases she just smiled and called me a cute little clown."

The third nephew, Michael took his turn, "Aunt Susan was the person I could always rely on. When I had trouble with homework she would help me through it, if I wanted to run away, I could always run away to her. When I needed advice about Anna I could talk to her. When dad left… Aunt Susan was always there. I could always rely on her."

Susan's mother couldn't say anything, she was crying softly and she mumbled and stuttered but the words couldn't come out.

"It's ok Alexandra," said her husband, "It's ok." He looked down at his daughter's grave sadly, "I remember the day little Susan was born. I was so terrified, I thought I might break her, she was so small, and she looked at me and I immediately fell in love with her. She could always calm me down. Always,"

They went around, Molly, Eric, Lexie, Angie, even Thatcher managed to say something of a happy experience of the day he met Susan, now it was Meredith's turn. She swallowed; she didn't know half of these people. Susan's parents, her sister, her nephews. Meredith hadn't even met Lexie until today, and hadn't seen Molly since Laura was born. She didn't even know her father that well but… Meredith found herself speaking.

"Susan… Susan was a better step-mother in the short time I knew her then my own mother was in a lifetime. Growing up I never knew over protective, and since meeting Susan that's all she's been. She helped me accept the sisters I never knew, the father that left me, she worried and made sure I was ok, she accepted me as her own and she was amazing. She took me in, she held my hand and hugged me and she loved me. I just wish I had told her."

Addison squeezed her hand softly and kissed her temple, whispering in her ear, "She knew,"

Lexie walked over, "Hey," she said,

"Hi." Meredith nodded, she didn't like this; she was in Thatcher's house, Susan's wake. Addison was chatting with Molly and cooing over Laura. Meredith just felt numb. She wanted to be at work, in surgery, but she couldn't, because she was on her break. She'd passed her intern year and now she was on her break.

"So I'm Lexie, but you knew that…"

"Yeah."

"Ok, so I could do with getting away from all this, and I guess you could too?" Lexie said hopefully,

Meredith looked into her half-sisters hopeful eyes, "Ok,"

"Great." Lexie led Meredith upstairs and into her old room. It was painted lilac with ripped out magazine posters and photos stuck over the walls along with pictures of horses and cute animals. Meredith scrunched her nose. "I haven't changed it since I was in high school," Lexie blushed,

"It's okay," Meredith sat on the bed and looked at Lexie, "You're studying to be a doctor aren't you?"

"Uh yeah, I just graduated. Harvard."

"Dartmouth." Meredith said, "Medicine or-"

"Surgery, I uh, I just got accepted to Seattle Grace actually."

"So we'll be seeing more of each other," Said Meredith, "That's… Good."

Lexie smiled, "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Meredith looked around, "So uhh… I'm not like this." She motioned the room, "I've never really been like this. I was… I had pink hair and safety pins in my clothes and fishnet sleeves,"

Lexie nodded, "When did you meet Addison?"

"You know when Lexie."

Lexie blushed, "Sorry I just-"

"It's okay." Meredith looked around, "My daughter's name is Melinda Meredith Joseph-Grey, she's nine years old, and she lives on the other side of Seattle with her adoptive parents, Nate and Chris."

"Can I meet her?"

Meredith smiled, "Of course you can. She's your niece."

Lexie grinned, "So we'll get to be like, a family."

"Yea, actually, uh…" Meredith paused, "Well if you don't want to live here then I have a room in my house, and Izzie, my room mate, needs someone else because I guess Addison and I are a bit… well we can get a bit PDA. But yea, if you want then I have a spare room."

Lexie gaped, "Really?"

Meredith shrugged, "It'll give us a better chance to get to know each other, and you'll meet some more people who work at the hospital."

"Wow,"

"Don't decide now, think about it. We'll have to get to know each other a bit more once I come back."

Lexie frowned "Where are you going?"

"Addison and I are-" Meredith was cut off by a knock on the door, Molly and Addison walked in,

"There you are," said Addison moving to sit next to Mere on the bed,

Molly sat on the desk, "What are we talking about?"

"L.A." Meredith said, "Addie and I are going to L.A. next week." She bit her lip and looked across at Addison who shrugged,

"I don't mind; tell them, they're your sisters."

"What are you telling us, Merri?" Asked Molly,

"Uh… Addison and I have decided to have a baby, and were going to L.A. to meet with one of Addie's friends, a fertility specialist,"

Molly grinned, "That's great! Congratulations!" she jumped up and hugged them both, Lexie smiled at them,

"Wow, that's just,"

"You don't have to be nervous Lexie," Smiled Addison, "Mere is your sister and I'm almost your sister in law."

Lexie came forward and hugged them both too, "Thanks, uh, Addison."

A week had passed. Meredith felt excitement bubble inside her as Addison brought the car to a stop. Addie looked over to Meredith with sparkling eyes and a huge smile that made Meredith's heart flutter,

"You ready?"

Meredith grinned, "Yeah. Are you?"

Addison nodded, "Yeah, yeah I'm ready."

Meredith kissed her softly, "I love you Addison,"

"I love you too."

The two women stepped out of the car and closed the doors before walking across the street and walking into Ocean Side Wellness Group ready to meet the woman who would give them their baby.

review!

ok, sorry it's been a billion years since my last update, but i really hated this for a while and yea, i didn't want to post. (and OMG theres only one morechapter of this fic after this one!) so i'm going to really TRY to A) rewrite the sequel cos i hate it more then i hated this. B) write the last chapter of Remember When We Were Happy. and C) get my muse back. perhaps in a different order then that.