She had been sitting in Madi's room for what seemed like forever too preoccupied with thoughts of Alex to realized George standing in the doorway. When her eyes finally did move from her daughter's face, she gave him a soft, forced smile that came out more as a twisted grimace. Rubbing her daughter's hand, she stood up and walked out into the hall with him to allow Madi to sleep undisturbed.
"Hey." She sighed as he pulled her in for a comforting hug.
"Hey."
"Dad has Owen. I don't want him to see Madi like this."
"That's really good, Mer. How are you?"
"I'm scared as hell." She admitted not having the strength to lie and say she was fine. "I scared for my baby. I'm scared because I'm here and Alex is here. I scared because everybody but you and Richard hate me."
"They don't hate you, Mer."
"They have every right to. It's my fault. I left. I made the mistake. Now, I'm paying for it."
"As long as you recognize it as a mistake then… you can rebuild what we all had."
"But I have kids, George." She whispered looking at him with tear-filled eyes.
"Wonderful kids, who are happy. Who love you. Whose father will love them." He pulled her in to another hug. She buried her head into his shoulder as a few tears rolled off of them.
"I don't want them to get hurt."
"I've known Alex for a long time. If I know anything, I know he loves you and he will love Madi and Owen." She just nodded. "Mer?" He said in a couple of minutes. "Why'd you leave?"
"I'm not ready to talk about it." She whispered. "Not until I talk to Alex."
"Okay." He kissed her cheek.
--
She wasn't quiet sure why she was there or how she ended up there. George sat with Madi, who probably wouldn't be awake until the next day, and she headed out to drive around for no reason other than to get away from the hospital that held as many memories as there were sick people. Somehow, she ended up sitting on the porch of the only place that held more memories than that hospital: the house she had lived in and left so many times.
Using her legs, she swayed slightly listening to the crickets. Night had settled, and behind clouds stars twinkled. What she was going to say, she didn't know. Staring up at the sky, she couldn't help but wonder what made her leave Seattle and what kept her away. It wasn't that she didn't love Alex, because she did with all of her heart. Before she could ponder it any further, she saw the headlights coming down the street and turned into the driveway.
Someone was sitting on the porch. He didn't know who. It couldn't be Izzie since she was on-call. George could have forgotten his key as he did on occasion, but he didn't think he'd be home since he spent most nights with Samantha. Shrugging to himself, he pushed the door open and got out. The person didn't move or call to him as the door slammed behind him and he started up the hill to the porch. As he drew closer, the more evident that the person wasn't George. Coming up the stairs, he got the first glance of who it was. Shocked to find her of all people there, he made his way up the steps without removing her eyes from her. She pulled herself to her feet as he stood on the porch.
"Can we talk?" She asked after a few minutes of silence and staring.