Addie had only been minutes before she came and took Meredith to see her brothers.

Richard returned to the couch picking up the photo. He studied it closely. It had been the last photo where all of them were together and smiling. There he was seated next to Ellis. Meredith was curled up on her mother's lap. She was 8. She was tiny and had dressed herself in her pretty lavender sun dress that she had always loved.

Alex sat on Richards lap. His arms were around his twin sister. He had on his trademark jeans and Astro Boy shirt. Richard could remember the fight he had trying to get him into something a bit more appropriate for a family photo, but eventually he had caved.

Mark stood behind then. A hand resting on his mothers shoulder. Mark was 14. He had taken to wearing polo shirts that were a little snug to show his muscular body. It was black because it apparently looked more sophisticated. Well that's what he had told Richard.

Richard chuckled at the memory. His eyes focused in on Ellis. "I don't understand why you did what you did." He told the photo. "But you have broken us."

Richard continued to hold the photo trying to remember properly the days his family had been truly happy. He found it was a hard battle because as he looked at his smiling children he couldn't shake the pain, erase the tears or forget the fights that had followed. Ellis was gone and he had to struggle through life as a single parent with 3 troubled but amazing kids.


Richard stood and returned the photo back to its draw. "If only you knew." he whispered, letting out a sigh. He then returned to the couch and waited for Derek to arrive.

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Addie walked Meredith to the conference room. She knocked on the door before entering quietly. Addie walked a wary Meredith inside. Mark was still seated where she had last seen him. Derek was leaning up against the wall and Alex was playing with an icepack.

Derek went to Meredith as soon as she entered the room. "Mer baby" he said as he pulled her to him "You ok?" he asked,

Meredith wrapped her arms around him. "We'll talk about it later." she whispered. "Just hold me for now."

Derek was taken back by her request as she never asked for him to hold her. He could sense her vulnerability, so he didnt say a word. He was more than happy to hold her and breathe her in.

Alex cleared his throat, and Meredith looked over at him and only just now noticed the icepack on his hand. "Lex?" she asked. But he didnt answer. Meredith knew he wouldn't talk while Derek was here.

"Der" Meredith said quietly. "Dad wants to talk to you about work stuff." she told him.



Derek nodded. "Will you be ok?" he asked.

"Yeah" she sighed in reply.

"Ok, well page me if you need me." he told her before he tilted her head so he could give her a quick kiss. "I love you Mer."" he whispered.

"You too Der" she replied before he left the room.