Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's anatomy, Just Riley.
AN: Hmm… so it's a little hard to write now because I have a pinched nerve in my elbow and it hurts. I'd like to thank you all for the encouraging reviews, I love them. So here we go.
AN 2: So… I had surgery and that is the only real reason I was able to finish this chapter. I know it's short and I am soooooooo sorry. It probably sucks too. So, sorry for the extreme lateness and suckyness.
Chapter 11
Meredith and Derek were talking with Derek's mother while Riley listened. They were talking about Riley growing up when the door burst open. In came a horde of kids, followed by their parents; Derek's sisters and brother-in-law's.
Carol and Derek stood up immediately, followed by Meredith, who slowly stood from her seat on the couch. Riley also stood up, but only after Meredith stood. Meredith watched as Derek interacted with the sisters that he hadn't seen in a long while. Once Derek hugged his sisters he went over to the couch where Meredith and Riley were standing.
"Meredith this is Kathleen, Lizzie, Emma and Nancy." Derek introduced.
"Hi, nice to finally meet you. Derek talks about you all the time." Meredith said.
"And this is Riley." Derek added.
Meredith and Riley were immediately pulled into hugs. Meredith let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding. She, like Riley, was scared that the rest of the family would not be as accepting to them has Carol ha been. Soon enough the kids had taken a liking to Riley and they dragged her down to the basement to play with their toys. Meredith sat comfortably next to Derek as they were all in the living room.
"So, Meredith, you work at the same hospital as Derek?" Kathleen asked.
"Um, yes, I'm an intern." Meredith said.
"Interesting, and how exactly did you find out that Riley was his daughter?" Nancy grilled.
"Nancy" Derek said as a warning.
"None of that matters now. All that matters is that this family is together again, and with some new additions." Carol said.
"Great, more people for the annual family snowball fight." Peter, Emma's husband, replied.
Derek turned to Meredith in order to answer the question she was sure to ask after that statement.
"It's a tradition that started years ago. We separate into teams and have a huge snowball fight in the backyard. The kids love it." Derek said.
"I'm sure Riley will too." Meredith said with a smile.
"What do you say we have that snow ball fight right now?" Jake, Nancy's husband, suggested.
"The kids would love to do that." Carol said.
Derek's sisters and brother-in-law's all got up and began grabbing their coats. Jake ran over to the basement door and opened it.
"Shepherd Family snowball fight." He called down.
Meredith could hear the sounds of all the kids running upstairs. She turned around and saw two of Riley's cousin's dragging her upstairs. Everyone quickly put on their coats, scarves, hats and anything they needed to keep warm. Derek handed Meredith her coat and followed the kids as they darted outside. The groups were separated into two groups and began making bunkers and snowballs. Carol came out to the center of the yard.
"Okay, the rules are 1. No throwing snowballs at someone's face. 2…" Carol continued with the rules.
When she finished Carol walked to the patio and picked up a bright red handkerchief. She threw it up in the air. As soon as the hanky landed softly on the snow, the two teams began pelting each other with snow. Riley came up behind Derek a tugged on his jacket.
"Dad, my shoe is untied." Riley told him.
Derek bent down to tie Riley's shoe when Riley dumped two handfuls of snow on his head. Derek looked up at Riley' devilish smile. He stood up and shook the snow of his head.
"Okay, new rules. Free for all." Derek shouted to everyone.
Soon everyone began pelting teammates. About an hour later Carol came out on to the porch and called everyone inside. Derek was the last to enter the house. He came in carrying something big.
"Look what I found. I think this log should keep until Christmas. I'll just go throw it in the fire." Derek said.
"NO! I'm not a log." Riley began wiggling.
"So that's where you got off too. You looked like a log to me." Derek said.
"C'mon you, let's get you out of those wet clothes." Meredith laughed as she took Riley.