Title: Tangled Web

Author: Farrah

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own the great show we all know as Grey's Anatomy; I sure do wish I did though

Summary: Meredith didn't deserve the cards she was being dealt, so she took matters into her own hands. She left, but the death of a loved one brought her back. But when she returns, she's not alone. Post 'Into You Like A Train' episode. Set six years in the future.

Thank you so much for your reviews. They give me inspiration, make me want to write more so I'll have new chapters everyday... lol. Thanks so much. I loved them all. Sorry this chapter took so long... I got caught up writing some of the more pivotal chapters.

A/N: This chapter continues from the last chapter. It's a few hours later. Enjoy!!!

Chapter 3:

- Meredith's apartment, NYC, first week in January 2012 -

Jeremy sat nervously at the railing of the stairs where he could see into the living room, but no one could see him. He watched as his mother snuggled closer into Mark's chest as they were on the couch watching Mark's favorite movie, 'Old School'.

"Oh, c'mon Mere, how do you not see it?!?!?"

"For the umpteenth time Mark, I do not look like her."

"Yes you do. You're a dead ringer for Nicole. Even Liz thinks so."

"Are you serious? What, was it like a debate or something?"

"Of course it wasn't a debate. A debate would mean someone would have to oppose. Duh..."

Meredith laughs at his childishness "Duh? What are you nine?"

Mark continues as if he hadn't heard her "... it was an agreement."

"Oh okay" Meredith says while chuckling

"Besides, I don't know why you are so against looking like her. She's hot."

Meredith gasps and playfully slaps Mark's chest "That's going to cost you mister."

"Why? I'm not the one with the crush on Tom Welling." He grins at her

"You promised to never repeat that!!!!!!" she sits up and glares at him

Just as Mark started to say something, Jeremy spoke up. "Uncie Markie?"

They both turn heir heads toward the stairwell and Mark replies, "Yeah bud?"

But before Jeremy could say anything Meredith says sweetly but with concern in her voice, "What's the matter honey? I thought you were sleeping."

"I was, but I just need to talk to Uncie Markie for a sec." Jeremy slightly stuttering and then makes his trot up the stairs.

"Oh okay honey." Meredith answers slightly confused, but turns to Mark, "Jer needs to talk to you."

Mark chuckles and says "Yeah, I heard Mer." He walks toward Jeremy before Meredith can reply or give him one of her glances.

Mark joins Jeremy who is sitting on his bed fidgeting with his hands. "So, what is it that you want to talk about buddy?"

"Umm well" he starts and the diverts his eyes from his hands to Mark's face, "I was just wondering if I could..." He falls short of completing the sentence and then return his eyes to his hands.

Mark looks down at Jeremy confusedly, partly because he was trying to figure out what it is Jer is trying to say. But also because he can't figure out why Jer is so nervous, Jer never acts like this.

"If you could..." Mark drags out his words trying to encourage Jer to talk to him

Jeremy looks at Mark and holds his gaze "I wanted to know if I could call you dad or daddy."

At this Mark's eyes widen, but he stays silent. Mark just stares at Jeremy for a while

Jeremy turns away from Mark and looks at the floor with his shoulders slumped over, with defeat in his voice he begins, "If you don't want me to it's okay... I jus-"

But before he can finish Mark cuts him off by saying, "No"

At this Jeremy returns his glossy eyes which have unshed tears on the brim to Mark. But when he looks at Mark he sees Mark smiling from ear to ear at him.

With a voice full of emotion Mark continues, "Of course you can call me dad buddy, I would love for you to call me dad."

Jeremy beams, "Really, you really mean that?" the tears in his eyes seemed to have vanished instantaneously and were replaced with happiness

"Absolutely" Mark pulls Jeremy into a hug and continues, "You have no idea how long I've wanted you to call me that, no idea."

They separate and Jeremy yawns and Mark says, "I think it's time for you to get some sleep now, so why don't you get under those cover so I can tuck you in"

Jeremy did just as he was told and Mark turns on his night light and flicks the light switch off as he gets to the door. He is about to exit just as he hears a sleepy Jeremy whisper, "Goodnight daddy"

Mark turns around with a wide smile on his face, illuminated by the hallway light.

He softly replies, "Goodnight son." and gently closes the door.

Meredith is laying on the couch mark just vacated, drifting in and out of sleep. Then she hears her cell phone ringing in her bedroom so she gets up to get it.

When she gets to the phone she read the caller ID and realizes it's the home her mom is in calling. She opens it quickly because frankly she is quite worried. They never call her this late.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Ms. Grey?" a nervous sounding woman asks

"Yes, this is she."

"Hi, this is Mrs. Henderson, one of your mothers's caretakers."

"Oh, hello Mrs. Henderson, how are you? "

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. I'm sorry to be calling you so late, it's just the file has a note that says to call no matter the time."

"It's no problem. Is there something wrong?"

"Ms. Grey, earlier today our in house doctor took some x- rays of your mother's chest and ran some tests..."

"Why?" Meredith interrupts

"Well, your mother was complaining of chest problems earlier today. And Dr. Aldridge being the thorough doctor he is ..."

"Can you just tell me what it is Dr. Aldridge found please?" Meredith interrupts again, becoming annoyed and worried at the same time because the woman won't just tell her what they found.

"Dr. Aldridge found a ... well, your mother has" The woman pauses and takes in a breath and then finished "Lung Cancer."

Meredith was floored. She stayed silent for about two minutes.

"Ms. Grey? Are you there? Ms. Grey?" said Mrs. Henderson

"Umm yeah I'm here. Did... did you just say lung cancer?"

"I did. I'm terribly sorry."

"What kind? And how advanced is it?" Meredith said still in shock from the news, but the doctor in her snapped to attention when she accepted that her mother had lung cancer. She knew Dr. Aldridge was an excellent doctor and was indeed thorough. He would never give the okay to call her if he wasn't sure.

"Dr. Aldridge says it's Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma,a type of non- small cell lung cancer." said Mrs. Henderson

"Okay" replied Meredith but hen she remembered Mrs. Henderson hadn't answered her second question, so she asked once again. "How advanced is it?"

"His notes don't say how advanced it is, it just estimates how much time she has left. I'm sorry"

"Then tell me how much time. I can figure it out from there."

Meredith hears Mrs. Henderson take in a sharp breath and then sigh. She could tell Mrs. Henderson didn't want to say anymore about it.

"It's alright Mrs. Henderson, I'm a doctor. I can handle this, you can tell me. I just need to know."

"It's says here that she has about four to six months left. Again, I am so sorry"

"That means it's stage three already", mumbled Meredith

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing. Thank you Mrs. Henderson, for telling me. Would you let Dr. Aldridge know that I'll be in tomorrow to speak with him about treatments tomorrow please?"

"Of course. Night Ms. Grey"

"Goodnight" Meredith said as she hung up the phone although nothing about her night was good.

Mark walks down the stairs, a smile still etched on his face. He walks over to the couch and doesn't see Meredith so he heads to the kitchen and gets himself a drink. Walking back to the living room, he notices light coming from upstairs, in the direction of their room, so he heads up.

When he reaches the room he leans on the doorframe and watches Meredith as she looks at the phone in her hands. He just stands there unnoticed by Meredith and takes it as his opportunity to take in her beauty, something he likes to do when she's sleeping.

"Hey there" he says in a whisper, loud enough for her to hear and not be startled

"Hey" she says as she glances at him and then returns to her previous position

"Guess what Jeremy wanted to talk to me about", he says as he sits next to her on the bed

Meredith shrugs and looks at him, "Guy stuff?"

The smile returns to Mark's face and he shakes his head negatively "he wanted to know if he could call me dad. I told him it was okay."

When he gets no response from Mer he becomes worried and then asks, "That is okay, right?"

"Yeah, yeah that's great." she answers distractedly, not at all listening what is being said

At this, Marks puts his forefinger and thumb on Mer's chin and raises her face to meet his. He sees tears sliding down her face and he quicky wipes the off and pulls her into him.

"Oh Mer, what's the matter"

She only begins to sob louder and tightens her hold on him. Occasionally saying something was he fault.

"Shh, Shh, It's ok. It'll be ok Mer. Whatever it is, It'll be okay, I promise. Don't cry."

He begins to stroke her hair while soothing her with words like Shh, It'll be okay and I promise.

After a while the cries turn into sniffles, he then pulls her away from him, only enough to look into her eyes.

"What is it Mer? What's your fault?" he asks

"My mom... my mom, she" Mer trails off unable to finish

"Listen Mer, I don't want to push you. It's just, I can't help you if you don't tell me."

"Mrs. Henderson called, she said Dr. Aldridge ran some tests on my mom. He says she has lung cancer." Meredith says, on the brink of crying again

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry Mer." he pulls her into his chest once again. "But, listen to me, this is not your fault. It's not."

"I should call Richard and tell him, he would want to know."

"I know, but he can wait till tomorrow hun."

"I go to see Dr. Aldridge tomorrow."

"Then you'll call Richard after we see Dr. Aldridge tomorrow. That way we'll know what we're dealing with."

"We?"

"Yes, we. We're in this together. I'll be there with you every step of the way."

"I can't let you do that. You have patients to see tomorrow."

"Your more important. I'll see them once we're done, and that's final missy."

"Yes sir" she chuckled

"Come on, let's go to bed now."

He turned off the light hey got under the covers. Meredith laid her head down on Mark's chest and he wrapped his arm around her.

"Mark?" she said into his shirt

"Hmmmm" He replied, already drifting off to sleep

"Thank you"

"No need."

Please continue to review. I realize I had my anonymous reviews turned off, but it's on now. So every one can review. Tell me what you guys think about it. The next chapter should be up tonight. I already have it written out, I just need to type it.