Chapter 56: Ellis is in Town

"Aren't you going to talk to me?" Ellis asked, sitting down on Meredith's and Alex's couch beside Meredith.

Meredith thought back to getting off the plane some hours ago. She couldn't believe Ellis was at the hanger waiting for her, but she should have known better. Ellis was standing there looking extremely annoyed like Meredith had inconvenienced her in some way.

Meredith sighed, not knowing exactly why her mother had decided to grace them with her presence. "I have been mother." Meredith said in a very monotone voice, starting to get annoyed with the way her mother started out as passive aggressive. She played the victim well.

"Really? Because it seems you are only concerned about your cell phone. Although, it makes sense. You have been on the boat for 30 days now, I am sure you are waiting to meet up with whatever boy you have lined up for the night." Ellis said nonchalantly looking at Meredith.

Alex hadn't liked Ellis from day one of meeting her. At the time, she was still in the navy as the admiral of the aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, which was one of the top spots in the navy. She had been retired for seven years now and Meredith and Alex had known each other for about five years, since Meredith joined as an officer. He was not going to stand by and let her disrespect his sister. "Ellis, with all due respect, if you are going to come into our place and ridicule us, you can leave and not come back."

Ellis took her scathing eyes from Meredith and laid them heavily on Alex who was sitting on the chair on the other side of the room very casually. He was as good as both Grey's at keeping calm and not showing emotion during intense moments. "Ah, so Meredith doesn't need to go anywhere, I have known it all along the two of you have been together. There is no way Meredith could live with a man and keep her hands off. But, I have to say… you are a hot one." Ellis turned her lips into a very small smirk.

Alex stood up and took a deep breath while looking at the horrified look on Meredith's face. He knew she wasn't going to say anything. Alex never really understood the relationship Meredith and her mother seemed to have. Meredith really did care what Ellis thought and knew these words she spoke would have much more of an effect then what she would ever admit. He started to talk in a very quiet but commanding voice, "It is time for you to leave. You are no longer welcomed here until you learn how to act to your daughter. Your daughter, Ellis."

"Alex." Meredith looked up to him from the couch with Ellis standing up to meet Alex's stance. She pleaded for him to just stop not wanting her mother to say more. Meredith had learned how to tolerate her mother despite the terrible things she said to her.

"How sweet." Ellis looked eye to eye with Alex before turning to her side to look at Meredith, "I think I should go. I have been very rude and haven't even considered the two of you wanted alone time. I shall go to my hotel. I will expect to have lunch with you tomorrow before my plane boards. I would also prefer if you were alone."

Meredith broke her stare from her mom and looked to Alex, telling him with her eyes to let her talk. When she realized he wasn't going to talk, Meredith stood up and walked to the door keeping her step very slow and controlled. She wasn't going to lose it now, but would play this game. She reached the door knowing Ellis and Alex were intently watching her. Meredith put her hand on the doorknob and looked back to see both of them looking at her with a hint of question in their eyes. She stood a little straighter and narrowed in on her mother, "I will be busy tomorrow, so maybe we will catch up next time you are in town." She challenged her mother with a firm voice.

"You will..." Ellis started to say as Meredith opened the door and interrupted her from saying anything further. At the same time, Meredith's phone went off, indicating a text message. Meredith tried not to make any movements or to take her eyes off of her mother. She knew it was Derek telling her he had landed and would be home shortly.

"I will do nothing. You will leave so I can go about my night whatever or whoever it may be." Meredith said with a sarcastic hint in her voice.

Alex couldn't help but smirk. He knew Meredith could handle herself. She had learned how to deal with Ellis and at a minimum, not show any emotion good or bad towards her.

Ellis stood not sure what to do next. She wasn't used to being told what she was going to do, but in this moment, her daughter was telling her what she would do. "I will call you in the morning to set up lunch plans." She said sternly but didn't move and continued to battle Meredith with her eyes.

"Here, it seems you are having problems, let me help you out of the door." Alex spoke up while walking up behind Ellis without hesitation and was pleased with himself when he heard her groan under her breath and start walking to the door.

When Ellis got to the door, she stopped and looked at Meredith. "You know, maybe I have taught you a thing or two through the years. Keep going and you will be just like me." Ellis said quietly and walked out of the door, not looking back.

Meredith was stopped cold by Ellis' words, unable to move for fear she would crumble. She went through the motion of closing the door because it seemed like the next step. Meredith immediately used it for support to lean up against the inside of the door and shut her eyes, not wanting to face reality.

Alex shuddered at hearing the cold words ring through their apartment loud in clear even in the quiet voice of Ellis Grey. He watched Meredith decompress as best she knew how against the door. He knew when this kind of thing happened, how Meredith reacted. She typically drank herself to a place where death may be better, wake up the next morning with a massive hangover, and go on the next day like nothing had happened. Alex immediately thought of Derek. How would Meredith react now? He grabbed Meredith's phone off of the coffee table and saw that it was indeed Derek saying he had landed and was on his way to his apartment. He knew there was only one thing to do…