Grey's Anatomy One Shots

You're my dad

Back again with story three! This story is about Meredith and Richard and their relationship. I'm currently at season 14, so I don't know how their bond is in later seasons. But from what I've seen, their bond screams: 'Richard, you're my dad!'. I will be writing from season 5 episode 21. The episode where little Maddy shot her dad and Meredith and Richard had a big fight. This story will take place a few days after their fight. Enjoy, babes!

Note: I am dutch. This means English is not my first language. I am willing to learn, so if I make major mistakes in grammar, please let me know in a loving way. The parts in cursive are flashbacks. 

Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love

It has been three days since the fight. The fight Richard and I had. That day had been a blur. It started with Thatcher coming to the hospital to apologize to Lexie and me. I didn't believe a single word of everything he said, but Derek told me to think about the things he said. Not that I know what he means with that. Like when he says: 'It's family. You do these kind of things for your family.'. God may know what he is talking about. After Thatcher came, the whole drama with little Maddy and her father started. Thats were the fight started. 

I turn around on the bed. Derek has a late surgery. The wedding is going to be in a few days. Even though Richard and I sort of cleared up our fight, doesn't mean I feel reassured. The past days I've been thinking about what I said to him and what he said to me. 

Richard asked me to come with him to a trauma room. 'I can see that you're angry with me,' he started out 'and maybe angry with your mother.'. I felt myself get angry. 'Don't do that! I'm not your friend, and I'm not your family. You don't get to call me into your  office on personal business, and you don't get to speak to me this way now. It's an abuse of power. I'm a resident. I work for you. You have to speak to me like I'm a resident. And for the record? Somebody had to stand up for that little girl. I make no apologies for that.' I practically screamed at him. I let my head down. Afraid to look him in the eye. Richard nodded his head. 'You want to just be a resident? Fine. All right, then.'  he told me. 

After thinking about what I said to him, I regret it. I told Richard he is not my family. He is. Richard is the only man in my life who has been something close to a father for me. Especially now. With Derek and me getting married. Izzie having cancer. And Thatcher who just got out of rehab, so Lexie is crying and being all mopey faced. Richard is the only one that can tell me what to do. 

I turn over on the bed again. I'm facing the window. Suddenly, I hear footsteps on the stairs. I turn my head to the clock and see that it's 1.30 am already. Derek must be finished with his surgery. The door opens. It's Derek. 'Hey, you still awake?' he asks me. 'Yeah, how did the surgery go?' I ask him back. 'Good, no complications so I was done fast. Why are you still awake?' damn, what am I supposed to say now? I can't tell Derek what I was thinking about. 'Oh, I just couldn't sleep.' Derek gets in the bed, scooching in, spooning me. 'It seems like something is up. Do you want to tell me? There's always something when you can't sleep. Or it is me keeping you awake with sex.' he smirks. He knows me too well. 'It is nothing.' I say, not looking at him. 'Meredith, something is keeping you up. Is it the wedding? If you do not feel comfortable we can just cancel the whole thing.' 'No, it's not the wedding?' he kisses my cheek. 'Is it a case you worked on?' I can feel myself getting goosebumps. 'Okay, it's a case.' he says. I turn over so I am facing him. 'Do you want to tell me about it?' he asks. I sigh. 'It is not particularly a case. It's something that happened because of the case.' I say. 'Is it your fight with Richard?' I look away. 'Yes, it is.' 'What is the problem, dear? I thought you figured it out.' 'Well, we did. But it doesn't sit right with me. I told him is not my family, Derek. But he is. He is the closest thing I have to a family.' I tell Derek. I can feel a few tears escaping my eyes. 'But, you can go and talk to him tomorrow, right?' he asks, not getting why this is such a problem. 'You know me, Derek. Me talking about feelings. Not gonna happen.' 'Well, you should, Mer. You should tell him how you feel.' he kisses my forehead. 'How in gods name am I supposed to tell the freaking chief of surgery, my boss, that I see him as my father? And that everything I said to him earlier, was a lie? And that I am partly glad that my mom and Thatcher broke up, because otherwise I wouldn't have him in my life? How am I supposed to tell him that, Derek?' I almost scream. I sit up. Derek sits up too. 'So, you feel like he's your dad?' he asks. 'Yes, I do, Derek.' I tell him, crying. 'Well, okay.' he puts his arms around me. 'I have a plan. Let's go to Richards office together tomorrow morning. Then you are going to tell him exactly what you told me. Because, that was beautiful, Mer. You should let your heart speak. And I know you, sometimes when you let your heart speak, there are lots of curse words involved. So I'll be there to make sure that doesn't happen. Are you okay with that?' he lectured. What did I do to deserve this man? 'That seems okay to me.' I tell him. He hugs me thighter than he already did. 'Let's go to sleep, Mer. It's 2 am already.' he says, laying us down. I turn around with my head to the window again. Derek spoons me, his big right arm around my stomach. He has a strong grip, which makes me feel safe. His nose is at the back of my neck, rubbing slow and soft circles. I listen to his breathing. It's slow and heavy. After a few minutes I fall in to a dreamless sleep. 

Time jump: the next morning. 

Derek and I step in to the elevator. My hands are shaking. My legs feel like Jello. Derek puts his hand on my low back. He brings his head to my ear. 'It's gonna be okay, Mer. I'll be with you the whole time.' he whispers in my ear. Chills travel down my spine. The elevator stops and we step out. Derek's hand still on my lower back. We walk over the catwalk to Richards office. I can see him sitting there. I freeze. 'What's wrong, Mer?' I hesitate for a minute. 'I can't do this, Derek.' 'Yes, you can! Let's go. Just rip the band aid off.' I sigh. We walk further. When we arrive at the door off Richards office, Derek knocks at the door. 'Come in!' I hear Richard say. I take a deep breath. Derek opens the door and we step in. 'Meredith, Derek! What are you guys doing here?' Richard asks. I try to get words out of my mouth. Derek looks at me, wondering why I'm not saying anything. 'Well, we have, or actually Meredith, has something to talk to you about.' Derek says, looking at me. 'Oh, okay. What is it about?' Richard asks again. Derek puts his hand on my lower back again. He leads me to the seats in front of Richards desk. We sit down. I sigh again, not sure if I am going to hyperventilate or not. Like Derek says, just rip the band aid off. 'Okay, Richard. I am going to say some things and I want you not to say anything until I'm done with my story.' I say, trying not to look Richard or Derek in the eye. 'Okay, tell me. What's going on?' Richard tells me. 'Okay, after our fight with the Maddy thing and stuff I've been thinking about everything I said to you. And, I'm sorry. I never should have said you're not my dad or my family because that's not true.' Richards eyes grow big. 'You are my family, Richard. You are the closest thing I had to a family or a dad. And I shouldn't have said you are not. Because you are, Richard. I feel like you are my dad. And I don't want to fight with you. You're my boss to, and I shouldn't be fighting with my boss.' I say. Tears are rolling down my eyes. Derek puts his arm around me. Richard scrapes his throat. 'Meredith, I have known you since you were three years old. I've literally seen you grow up. Don't you think that the way I reacted to you a few days ago was because I don't feel the same way? You are the only thing close to a daughter I have ever had. I worry about you, Meredith.' he spits out. 'Wait, what.' I say. I don't believe this. Why would he see me as his daughter? I'm a horrible person. I'm dark and twisty. 'I would love to be your dad, Meredith. Or at least, try to be something like a dad to you.' he says. 

Time jump: The wedding 

I'm in my dress. I look in the mirror. God, I look like a freaking marshmallow. Cristina walks in the room, with Lexie pushing Izzie in her wheelchair behind her. 'Are you ready, Mer?' Cristina asks. 'I think so.' I say. 'Who is giving you away, Meredith?' Lexie asks. I turn around to face them. 'Well, Richard is.' I say, feeling a tad bit of ashamed. 'Wait, Richard? I thought you were going to walk yourself down the aisle!' Cristina asks. 'Well, I changed my mind.' I say. I hear a knock at the door. 'Who is there?' Cristina screams. 'It's me, Richard!' we hear. Lexie walks to the door to open it. 'Hi!' Richard says. He steps in the room and Lexie shots the door. Richards eyes go up and down my body. 'Wow, Meredith. You look gorgeous!' he says. 'Thanks' I say, blushing. 'Are we ready to get married?' Cristina says. 'Yeah, let's go.' I say. 

Richard and I stand behind the doors of the church. He grabs my hand and hooks his arm in mine. The doors open and Cristina walks out first. Lexie and Izzie follow. Richard brings his mouth to my ear: 'Here we go!' I giggle. We walk through the doors. I look ahead and I see Derek standing there in his gorgeous black and grey suit. He is smiling. When we arrive at the altar, Richard grabs my head. 'I'm proud of your, Meredith Grey.' he kisses my cheek. 'Thank you, dad!'

A/N: I'm not sure if I am fully content with this story. I would have loved for it to turn out differently, because in my eyes it is kind of a cliche. But hey, this is a part of my learning process, so I still wanted to publish it. Thanks for reading anyway!