Please enjoy this next chapter. It's reminiscent of Chapter 11 of Wouldn't be this Way, the prequel to this story. Please leave a review for inspiration and as always thank you for reading. -Jen

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or quotes from Grey's Anatomy, nor do I own the lyrics to Beyoncé's song Ave Maria.

Chapter 16- Ave Maria

You are my heaven on earth.
You are my hunger, my thirst
I always hear this voice inside
Singing Ave Maria

Annunciation was the church that Melanie and Kathleen, but mostly Kathleen, had gone since they had moved to Seattle. As Melanie walked into the sanctuary, she could see that almost nothing had changed. It was the same wooden pews she had fidgeted in as a child. It was the same smoky scent from the incense that would make her nose start running before long. She had asked Dan to stay near the back. She needed a bit of privacy as she kneeled in the third pew on the right; the one where she had spent numerous Sunday mornings. She dug through her purse to find the rosary that she knew would always be there. It may not have seen the light of day in a few years, but her grandmother always said that you never knew when you'd need to pray, so Mel kept it with her always.

Quietly she started to do a rosary. Even if it would take hours, she would count and pray on every bead. "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," she said crossing herself. "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth," she stopped her mind was going blank. Maybe it had been too long. Muttering the beginning of the creed, she felt someone behind her.

"Can I help you, Child?" asked the old Priest.

Melanie looked at him, "I need to make a confession Father. Would that be possible?"

"Of course," he said as he led her to the Confessional. They walked to the opposite sides of the booth to be separated by the screen.

She crossed herself again and began, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It's been about three years since I last went to Confession." Though the ritual usually made her nervous, for once the tradition brought her comfort.

"What is troubling you my child," came the voice.

Melanie let a tear run from her eyes but maintained her composure otherwise. "I have been a bad Christian. I break the Third Commandment all the time by working on Sundays, but I'm a doctor so I'm doing the Lord's work. I have broken the Sixth Commandment. I've slept with men who I wasn't married to and had no intention of marrying. I've changed that though. I broke the Fifth Commandment and had an abortion. I feel that the Lord will forgive me. Oh, and I swear entirely too much"

"Is that all?" the priest asked.

"No," she replied. "Of all my sins, the one that I am the most sorry for is I have dishonored my mother. I have said things I didn't mean and treated her worse than I would treat any acquaintance. That's the big one. Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a lowly sinner."

"I could tell you to go to Mass everyday for a month and to do 5 rosaries every day, but I won't. If you're sorry, and I mean truly sorry, then you will find some way of your own to make up for your sins," he told her. "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

"Amen," she responded. "Thank you Father. Also would you pray for Kathleen Starski? She's in the hospital and could really use the prayers."

"Of course," he replied. They both walked out of the booth. "Kathleen is one of my frequent parishioners. She comes to me quite a bit."

Melanie looked at him again, "You must be Father O'Leary." He nodded his head. "I'm actually Kathleen's daughter. My mother has said good things about you. We've been having issues for a while now."

"I hope you get a chance to resolve them," the Father responded.

"I do too. Thank you again," she said shaking his hand. She then started walking back to Dan.

Dan went to hug her, "How did it go?"

"Not bad," she answered. "Before we go I just have to do one more thing." Dan nodded and Mel kneeled in the pew. "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus Christ. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now. Amen."

"You forgot the last line," Dan said after the amen.

"No I didn't," she replied. "We never said the last line while I was sick. I never understood why, but I think I do now. I can't bring myself to even imagine that my mother is going to die eventually. It could be the hour of her death now." Melanie's eyes got misty. "How could I even say those words at this moment? I think I'm ready to go back to the hospital now."

"Ok," Dan replied. Quietly they made their way back to Seattle Grace. He dropped her off at the door and went to park the car.

Inside the doors, Izzie was waiting for Melanie. "Mel, where have you been?" she inquired.

"Church, Iz. I just needed to do something for mom," Melanie answered. "Why, is something wrong?"

"No," Izzie assured her. "Your dad was just worried about you. They're all still in surgery."

"Still? She's been in surgery for hours!" Melanie exclaimed.

"They're just doing a thorough job," Izzie said. "Callie finished setting her bones. Your dad hasn't had to do much of anything. The baby's fine. Bailey is just taking care of some internal bleeding. That shouldn't even be much longer. How did you get to the church anyway? You shouldn't be driving when you're upset."

"Dan drove me," Noting Izzie's confused expression, she continued. "My boyfriend."

"Oh, anyone I know?" Izzie queried.

"Yes, but I'd rather not say until I tell Dad," Melanie responded.

"Fair enough," Izzie replied. Her pager then went off. "That's Bailey. She just finished up. Your mom's going to be in 2398. You could probably sit in there for a while."

"I think I'll do that," Mel reacted. She then went up to her mother's room.