Chapter Eight: "When the carousel stops turning..."

Meredith squeezed her eyes as tightly shut as possible. The pain was gone. Derek was gone. She couldn't hear anything. Silence. She slowly opened her eyes. The room was bright. Her hospital gown was gone. She had on white surgical scrubs and Derek's ferry boat scrub cap. She was alone, at least she thought she was alone until she heard that familiar voice she was always afraid to hear.

"They told me you'd be coming." Ellis Grey said from a chair across the room. She wore white scrubs and had an odd smile on her face. She looked calm. Pleased.

"Mom?" Meredith questioned, "What are you doing here?"

"The carousel finally stopped turning Meredith." Ellis said softly.

"I'm dead." Meredith stated.

"Yes." Ellis nodded, "But we're all going to die anyway. I was so pleased to hear you were on your way."

Meredith stared at her mother, "You're actually happy to see me?"

"Of course I'm happy to see you Meredith." Ellis scoffed, "Have you seen what you've accomplished in your lifetime? I've been dying to tell you how proud you've made me. I only wish I could of been there to cheer you on."

Meredith processed this information quietly. This side of her mother was rare. She was rarely on the receiving end of praise from Dr. Ellis Grey, but they were both dead. Maybe death brought out the good in people.

"Meredith," Ellis stood from the chair and approached the bed that Meredith sat on, "I'm so sorry you had to endure so many terrible things. You've overcome so many obstacles. I'm so relieved you are no longer suffering, especially from that dreadful disease."

"It was awful mom," Meredith sighed as she searched her mother's eyes for answers.

"He's here," Ellis nodded and then smiled, "I know that you're wondering about him."

"Derek?" Meredith swallowed hard as his name took flight from her lips.

"Derek is dead." Ellis reminded.

"Don't." Meredith pulled away. She hated hearing those words. She didn't care how long it had been. Time had not made it any easier for her to hear that statement. It was so final. So real. She hadn't had time to process the fact that she was dead too. She felt like she was dreaming. She was lucid. She remembered everything from her life, and the fact that Derek was dead was her least favorite thing to remember.

In the hallway a wheelchair went speeding passed her doorway. Her name trailed after it.

"Meredith!"

She heard a familiar crash. It sounded like a tray of medical instruments scattering to the floor in a series of clattering clinks. Meredith raced out into the hallway to find George O'Malley on the floor under a pile of medical equipment.

"George." Meredith grinned and ran to him. She touched his face, "George! Are you okay?!"

"Yeah. Of course. Just having fun. It's a lot of fun up here," George was halfway laughing, "We heard you would be here soon. It's so good to see you."

Meredith glanced back at her mother, "How do you all know this?"

"Derek." George announced.

"Derek." Meredith whispered.

"O'malley, why don't you catch Meredith up. I'll meet you both upstairs," Ellis said as she made her way to exit. She stopped next to her daughter and placed her hands on either side of Meredith's face, "I wish I would have told you more often… you are anything but ordinary." She placed a soft peck on Meredith's forehead and then left the room.

Meredith stood speechless as she watched her mother disappear.

"Things are pretty different up here," George said, "Come on. Wanna race?"

Meredith exhaled slowly, "I finally receive approval from my dead mother when I'm dead. The irony continues into the afterlife."

Meredith followed George down the hallway. It was exactly like Grey Sloan Memorial except it was bright. Everything was bright, white, and it was deserted. Still, it was familiar and she felt peaceful as she followed George. They found two wheelchairs and each sat in one.

"I'll race you to the stairs." George said, "Ready?"

"What are you supposed to catch me up on?" Meredith asked.

"Just follow me…." George ordered, "Ready. Set. GO!"

Meredith pushed the wheels as fast as she could, but George had clearly had more practice. Still, she laughed. She really laughed. Her laughter bubbled out of her chest and echoed down the hallways as she raced to catch up to him. "I feel like I'm flying!"

George was still in his chair waiting for her at the stairs, "Wanna race again? What's really fun is to get two more people to push us in hospital beds. You can go pretty fast. I've been practicing… You took forever to get here."

"You were wishing death on me?" Meredith scoffed, "George, that's terrible."

George laughed, "It's not terrible. I'm selfish. We're all selfish. It's great here… and we all know how the carousel is not so great."

"It had great moments." Meredith argued.

"It sure did." A familiar female voice agreed.

Meredith rotated her wheelchair to find Lexie Grey coming to the top of the stairs. She looked beautiful. George stood from his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and let a proud grin cover his face.

"Lexie!" Meredith mumbled through a disbelieving grin.

"I thought you were going to wait upstairs?" George asked.

"I lied," Lexie almost squealed as she ran toward her sister.

Meredith jumped out of her chair and embraced Lexie in a tight hug.

"I felt like I would NEVER see you again!" Lexie gushed as she pulled back, "They told me to wait upstairs but I couldn't take it."

"You're okay." Meredith smiled, "You're good. You look good."

"So do you. You haven't aged a day." Lexie laughed, "I'm glad you didn't have to suffer by the way. Physical pain I mean. Gore. That was such a bitch."

"The plane." Meredith replied hating the memory, "I'm so sorry Lexie."

"Don't worry about it." Lexie smiled. She had a school girl excitement bubbling into her innocent face.

"Are you guys going to keep holding up the plan or what?!"

Meredith's eyes widened at the booming voice coming from down in the lobby. She'd know that voice anywhere.

"Mark?!" Meredith whispered as she stared at Lexie.

Lexie nodded with excitement and then corrected her, "McSteamy..."

Meredith almost giggled as she allowed Lexie to take her hand.

"Come on you guys," George demanded and led them down the stairs. He sounded like a little boy that was excited about his favorite candy in a candy store.

Meredith saw Mark Sloan sitting on the counter of the large, circular, nursing station waiting for them.

"Mark," Meredith greeted as she reached the bottom of the stairs, "It's you!"

"Shut up Big Grey," Mark rolled his eyes and pulled her in to his chest.

The hug felt nice. Seeing these people felt nice. All the grief she'd experienced in her life was officially over. She almost felt giddy.

"It's good to see you." Mark smiled, "I've missed my favorite dirty mistress. He won't shut up about you. What else is new?"

Meredith searched the lobby. There was fluttering in her chest. All of these people she loved led her to this moment, "Where is he?"

"Let's take the elevator and find out," Mark replied.

Meredith followed him to the elevator. She felt butterflies. She felt emotional. She turned around to see George and Lexie staying behind, "Are you guys coming?"

"We're taking the stairs," George replied as he shook his head.

"We'll see you up there don't worry," Lexie smiled.

Meredith waved, sad to see them go so soon. She didn't trust that she would see them again. She turned back to face Mark. The elevator dinged.

"Are you ready for this?" Mark asked with a grin.

"Ready for what?" Meredith felt panic, "Is this a dream?"

"No," Mark replied as the elevator doors slid open, "He waited for you."

"He waited for me," Meredith repeated in a whisper as she stared into the elevator. Their elevator. Her eyes met his.

"Of course I waited for you," Derek smiled his perfect smile and extended his hand to her.

"Derek." Meredith smiled. She took his extended hand. He was real. He was fine. Tears spilled over onto her cheeks and she went to him. She closed her eyes as she felt his arms wrapping around her and repeated his name, "Derek."