Meredith and her added worry of Christina, decided that studying was pointless. She had finished eating the food that Alex had brought down before opting to go up and check on Richie.

As Meredith stepped on to the elevator she contemplated what it would take for someone to terminate the pregnancy or keep their child from their father. She surely wouldn't be able to do that and she hadn't. Derek had moved to Seattle to be with her and now they were engaged and Derek was calling builders to start on their new home.

The thoughts whirled in her head. She was considering the differences between Christina and her mother. She wondered why or how could anyone possibly contemplate teminating a baby, or even want to. She had been so moved by the fact that she was growing a person inside of her. A life that was a small piece of her and Derek.

Yet the thought of keeping a child from it's father was such a big thing too. She could never have dreamt of doing such a thing. She could not imagine raising a child alone, or even choosing too. Although it would never have really been an option for her as her brothers and father would have been there for her.

Meredith stepped off the elevator and could hear her father's booming voice, but it wasn't until she started moving down the hall that she could hear what he was saying.

"How could you Ellis?" he yelled.

Meredith didnt hear her mothers response.

"You left, and yesterday... yesterday you told me that you still loved me, and yet you do this. " he yells.

Meredith reaches the doorway to see her father standing at the foot of the bed glaring up at Ellis.

"I told you that i still loved you. I've raised your kids. 'yours', not mine... like they are my own flesh and blood. And to be honest, i may as well be. I'm the only family they have... I love them... but you deny me of my own child... How... how do you live with yourself?" he asked in his rage.

"Dad" Meredith sats as she steps into the room.

"No" he states as he turns to look at her. "I have missed out on 17 years of my sons life because of this selfish bitch. Do you not understand how hard it was for me. I watched you almost fade away, not once, but twice. While she ran for the hills."

Meredith sighs as she walks to his side. "Dad please." she whisperes and she reaches out and rests her hand on his chest.

She can see the pain in his eyes.

"I'll pick you up... i'll pick you up" she whispers to him

Richard softens slightly as he looks down at her.

Meredith aims to block her mother out as she pushes herself in between him and the bed. She wraps her arms around him and rests her head on his chest. One of her hands runs up and down his back, slowly calming him down. "It's ok dad, you are allowed to be angry." she tells him. "What you've said is true... but you know yelling doesnt solve anything."

She turns to look at her mother. "Where is Richie?" she asks.

Ellis wipes the tears from her eyes and sighs. "He is in the cafeteria." she replies.

"Good" Meredith answers. Turning back to Richard she orders "Dad, go spend time with your son."

Richard nods and gives her a quick squeeze and leaves the room. He doesnt look or say another word to Ellis. Meredith turns back to her mother. Her thougths whirling faster through her head.

"I cant fathom how one could possibly keep their child from their father." she begins. "You should have told him yesterday... he was in your room for a whole day and you didnt tell him. You really are a selfish bitch."

With that Meredith turns to walk to the door. "Meredith" Ellis says quietly.

Meredith turns to look at her. " Don't say my name... dont even talk to me right now. I dont know how you do what you do... i dont know how you live with yourself." she adds before she leaves. She cant help but hate her mother just a little bit more.