Hello!

I'm glad you all seemed to enjoy the Meredith/Carolyn bonding time in the last chapter and it looks like some of you would be onboard for a sequel (which I'm excited for)!

Also, I started another MerDer fic that is a continuation of the AU episode titled Just a Girl in a Bar. If you haven't already, check it out and let me know what you think :)

Anyway, on with the story!
Enjoy!

Chapter 15

"Can I join the party?"

Amelia stood cautiously by the threshold of the kitchen. Meredith hadn't seen her in anything except that oversized hoodie and sweats all week. Her eyes were still clouded over and guarded, but she looked freshly showered and more refreshed than she could remember.

Meredith hastily wiped her face of any tears and offered her sister-in-law as reassuring a smile as she could manage at that moment.

"Jeez, Mom. What did you do to her? Derek wants to keep this wife, remember?" Amelia asked sarcastically, plopping herself down across the two other women.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry," Meredith answered quickly.

"Don't you dare apologize. What do you girls feel like for breakfast?" Carolyn squeezed her hand one more time before getting up and walking to the fridge. Despite the circumstances, she loved having some of her children back around the house.

"I don't care," Amelia sighed tiredly, leaning against the table on her elbows. "Where's Derek?"

"Probably still sleeping," Meredith responded. "I'm sure he'll be up soon though."

"Or I'm right behind you," came Derek's teasing voice from the door. She didn't have to turn around to know he was grinning ear to ear.

"What nice surprise," he continued, acknowledging Amelia's unexpected presence for breakfast. He slowly meandered into the room to place his hands on his wife's shoulders and plant a kiss on the top of her head.

"You slept in this morning," Carolyn observed.

"Not really. I was on the phone with Kathleen. She called to say that she, Nancy, and Liz should be here some time tonight depending on work and the kids schedules."

"Aww, shit. Really?"

"Amelia, language."

"Sorry, Mom."

Derek snickered at the exchanged and took the seat next to Meredith.

"Have you met any of them?" Amelia directed to Meredith.

"Just Nancy almost 5 years ago when she came to Seattle to see Derek. It was right after his and Addison's divorce was finalized."

Amelia snorted. "Bet that was barrel of fun. Exactly how horrible was she?"

"Oh, uhmmm," Meredith shifted uncomfortably. What was the nice way to say 'McBitchy'?

"We were really only just introduced. We didn't really talk…"

"She was less than welcoming," Derek added dryly.

"Nancy can be harsh, yes. But she was just being protective of you, Derek," Carolyn intervened. "Although, I'm sure she could have been more pleasant to you, Meredith. I'm her mother, but I know my daughter and she could stand to be less overbearing."

Amelia sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes.

"I was really hoping I'd have more time before the vultures started circling," she groaned.

"They're coming to see Meredith and me before we have to leave on Saturday," Derek chuckled, walking over to the coffee pot.

"Don't compare your sisters to vultures, Amelia," Carolyn reprimanded without missing a beat and flipping the pancakes.

"You're right. Descending wolves would have been a much better animal metaphor."

"Especially if we're talking about Nancy. You'll know for next time," winked Derek over his coffee mug.

"Amelia, what did I just say?"

"What? Derek was doing it too!"

Meredith couldn't help but laugh at the scene playing out before her. This was the family she wanted to be a part of. This was the family she was a part of.

And she'd never been happier.

After some delicious pancakes and more good natured scolding from Carolyn, the foursome cleared the table to get ready for the day.

"Derek, would you mind helping me get the table extensions down from the top of the closet? It's upstairs and we'll need them for tonight if the girls make it in time for dinner."

"Of course, Mom."

Just like that Amelia and Meredith were left alone at the table, nursing mugs of coffee and tea respectively.

"While we have a moment alone," Amelia started, "I just wanted to apologize for a few days ago. I really didn't mean to just unload on you like that."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," Meredith insisted. "Really, I understand. I mean, I guess I don't understand exactly. About how you feel, I mean. Cause you lost your fiancé and I couldn't even begin to describe to you how I would feel if I lost Derek, so I won't patronize you and tell you I understand how you feel. I just meant I understand as in I think you had more than understandable reactions considering the situation…And I'm rambling. I'm sorry."

"No, that's okay," Amelia replied with something close to a chuckle. "Mom's been walking on egg shells around me all week if anything serious gets brought up because she doesn't want to upset me. And Derek's not really trying to talk to me since I threw him out of my room. I'll take your rambling. At least you're being straight with me."

"I know we haven't really known each other for too long and we're not that close, but I want you to know that I don't mind if you want to come to me to talk or whatever. I've…had some pretty horrible crap happen to me in my life, so I get it if you need to vent or something."

Amelia nodded slowly without looking up from her coffee.

"I really appreciate that, Meredith," she said with tears forming behind her eyes.

"You know, I've never really felt like I fit in with this family all the time. I'm the baby so the age gap didn't help. Kathleen and I are sixteen years apart. Derek was five when I was born and was the only sibling I felt like I really had to look up to. I remember, when I was little, thinking that Derek was the greatest thing to walk the earth. We were close. But then after Dad died I don't think anyone really knew how to handle it. Not that I blame them. I mean, who expects to have to deal with that? But I think I pulled away from my family even more and eventually I got into to some pretty bad stuff. I OD-ed and technically died for 3 minutes and Derek had to save me. He never really forgave me for that until I came to visit Seattle. But I think I've pretty much blown any progress there with all this crap."

"He loves you," Meredith interjected. "And he's scared for you. Sometimes he doesn't know how to handle both of those feelings together. Believe me, I know. I've been on the receiving end of how he handles those feelings," she exhaled with a sympathetic look. "But he loves you. You're his sister."

"I know that. It just doesn't help that we're both equally stubborn," Amelia admitted with a roll of her eyes.

"Anyway, my point was that I just really appreciate your offer. It's especially hard not to feel alone right now."

"I know," Meredith whispered, suddenly reminded of Izzie laying in her prom dress on the bathroom floor.

"You're not alone, Amelia."

The two women shared an understanding smile just as Carolyn and Derek could be heard coming back down the stairs.

As always, let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading :D