Mark reached the Chiefs office, Addie trailed in behind him. Ricahrd was sitting looking at the family photo. He looked up at Mark who stood in front of him. "Take a seat, your brother and sister should be down soon." Richard told him.

"Where are they?" Mark asked.

"I'm guessing the roof. You know they used to always go up there to think." Richard explained.

Sure enough Alex and Meredith walked in together.

Meredith looked around to see that Derek was no longer there.

"He's just getting his jaw checked. I think it might be fractured." Richard told her.

Meredith nodded; she had forgotten that Mark had hit him.

"Are we having a family meeting or something?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, something like that." Richard sighed.

"So what does she want? Im guessing you spoke to her." Mark aimed at Richard.

"Can i start with one thing and get to that?" Richard asked.



They all nodded.

"Apparently she didn't know we worked here. She assumed Meredith had died and she was scared to come home." Richard groaned.

Alex put his arm around Meredith.

"What kind of Mother doesnt know if their child is dead or alive?" Mark grumbled.

Meredith sighed and leant into Alex.

"She looked just as shocked to see Mer as Mer was to see her." Richard noted.

"Anyway, some how she knows Derek." Richard continued.

"They met in Bosnia." Meredith said quietly. "Der was telling me that she is like his 2nd mom."

"Ok, well moving on." Richard spoke. "she wants to know you guys. Ive told her that it is up to you. Im guessing you've all got questions for her.:

They all looked at each other, not really wanting to admit that it was true.

"Why dont you guys make a list of questions that you want to ask her?" Addi offered.


Meredith sighed. "Can i think about this?"

Richard looked at Meredith. "You do know she is undergoing surgery this afternoon." he reminded her.

Meredith nodded. "I believe in Dereks ability." she advised him.

"Thats good to hear." Derek spoke as he entered the room. His jaw was slightly swollen.

"Just a small fracture, nothing that wont heal over time." he told the group. Derek walked over to where Meredith was nestled up against Alex.

"You ok?" he asked her as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Meredith nodded. "Im fine"

"Yeah right" Addie mumbled.

Meredith shot her a look.

"Mer said you met Ellis in Bosnia." Richard mentioned to Derek.

Derek sighed. "Yeah, she moved around the 3rd world countried doing surgeries for the Red cross crew. I met her in Bosnia and we became close."



"You didnt hear anything about her family?" Richard asked.

Derek shrugged. "she's as guarded as Mer on somethings. I knew she was married because she wore a wedding band. She never mentioned her children. I asked her abouther family, if she had one, but she never spoke about it."

"Sorry about your jaw." Mark told him. "Its just you dont know what it means for us to see her again."

Derek nodded. "Its ok. Just neither of you throw anymore punches. I dont think i can handle being laid out again."

Meredith raised her hand and ran it across his jaw. "You ok?" she asked

Derek nodded again. "I dont think you should be in on the surgery not that we know that she is your mother." he told her "But if you want to pick the inter to scub in , you can."

Meredith looked at Alex, who shrugged. "Instead of an intern, can you take Bailey instead?" she asked.

Derek looked at Richard. "She's one of us." Richard explained. "I'll bump the one she has scheduled and let her know who it is and that we want her in there."

Again Derek nodded. "I think if you guys want to see her, you should talk to her before the surgery because tomorrow she will be a no go 

zone."

Everyone nodded.

"Ok. well can we all go in together?" Richard asked.

"Id prefer pairs, or groups of 3." Derek told them.

Richard nodded. "Addie, if Mark wants to go with you, that will be ok. I assume Mer and Lex want to go in together." he noted.

Meredith and Alex nodded. "But what about you dad?" Alex asked.

"I will be there with all of you. Im going to clear my schedule and sit wiht her. I too have questions for her." he explained.

"Ok, well do you want to monitor her for me, since my intern really should be reassigned?" Derek asked Richard.

"No Der, i can monitor her progress. I just wont scrub in. I'll be fine, really." Meredith almost pleaded. "This way i can show her that i am very much alive." she forced a smile.

"Ok, just dont push it Mer, if it gets too much, come find me." he instructed.

"Whatever" she mumbled.

"Promise me" he asked her.


"Fine, i promise" she sighed,

"Right well i have patients to check on." he told everyone. "Do you want to come with Mer?" he asked.

Meredith sighed. "Ok". She pulled away from Alex. "I will page you when i am ready to talk to her." she told Alex.

"Will chat to you guys later" she told the others as Derek slipped his arm around her.