Holiday in Handcuffs

Chapter 12

The tines of the shiny metal fork clanked and scraped against fine china as Meredith shifted her food around on her plate. Green beans collided with soft, fluffy potatoes and drowned in a sea of brown gravy as bits of steak floated by untouched. The only thing Meredith managed to consume so far was wine. Three glasses of it, in fact. All in a matter of forty-five minutes. Her head was starting to get fuzzy, but she didn't care. Noises and murmurs of conversations flew over her head, yet she didn't partake in any of it. Instead, she chose to shift more food around and pour herself a fourth glass of ruby red wine.

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out above the murmurs, catching Meredith's attention. She finally lifted her head from the catastrophe of food on her plate in time to see her mother waltz into the dinning room like she was the Queen of England ready to greet her guests, never mind that they had been waiting on her for nearly an hour.

"I see you've started with out me." Ellis commented in a clipped tone as she kissed Richard's forehead and took her seat at the dinner table. She eyed Meredith and Derek before turning her attention back to Richard.

"We would have waited, dear, but the food was getting cold and Maria left early to be with her family for Christmas Eve." Richard replied, reaching out to pat Ellis' hand as he smiled at her.

Ellis' face relaxed a little as she sat back in her chair and placed her napkin on her lap. "Well, I suppose you had no other choice, then." She said, offering Richard a small smile in return. She picked up her fork and raised her eyes to Meredith again. "You haven't touched your food." She said.

Meredith shifted in her chair and cut her eyes at her mother. She was using that fake motherly voice again. The one she always used around Richard and Victoria. It was especially thick today since Derek was seated beside Meredith. Ellis always exaggerated when in the presence of guests.

"I'm not particularly hungry." Meredith said calmly, focusing on her plate of food again as she sank her fork into her mashed potatoes.

"Well, I'm sure Maria went to great lengths to prepare this for us, so I think it would be kind for you to take a few bites, at least." Ellis replied as she sliced through her steak with precision.

"I'm not a child, mother." Meredith said, rolling her eyes as she glared at Ellis.

Ellis took a deep breath as her fork clanked against the china. "Really? You're not a child? So, you think that sleeping with your professor was an adult thing to do?" She asked spitefully.

"What did you just say?" Meredith replied through gritted teeth.

"Dr. Grey, I'm not Meredith's-" Derek started, but was interrupted by Ellis holding her hand up at him.

"Stop right there, Dr. Shepherd. I am not interested in what you have to say at the moment. What I'm interested in right now.... is an explanation from my daughter." She said with a stern look.

"I don't think this is the time or the place to discuss this." Meredith said matter-of-factly.

"You're right." Ellis nodded. "Why don't we carry on with this conversation in the family room. Right now." She said as she stood up and tossed her napkin down onto the table.

Ellis stormed passed everyone seated at the table and entered the adjacent family room. She made her way over to the fireplace and stood with her arms folded across her chest as she waited for Meredith to join her. She could hear a few hushed whispers coming from the dinning room, and then a moment later, Meredith appeared in the doorway.

"Do you mind telling me why you are being so rude in front of my guest?" Meredith spat. "How could you say such a thing in front of Derek?"

"Oh, please, Meredith. Don't act like I've done something as vulgar as you brining the professor you've been sleeping with home for the Holidays!" Ellis yelled, her face turning red as she unfolded her arms, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "I mean, what exactly were you thinking, Meredith!?!"

"Funny how a woman who slept with a married man and then stole him from his wife and family thinks that me sleeping with one of my professors is so appalling!" Meredith yelled back. "It's a little ironic, don't you think?"

"We are not talking about me here, Meredith. We're talking about YOU!"

"Yeah, mom. That's right. Deny all the wrong you've done and put me down to make yourself feel better. That's great parenting!"

"Do not speak to me that way, Meredith Grey! Do you know what sleeping with your professor can do to your career if anyone found out? You'd be finished! People will look at you and think you got ahead because of him! You are throwing your life away! And I did not raise my daughter to make such poor choices! I raised you to be strong and independent. I did not raise you to depend on a man to excel." Ellis spat at her. "If you get accepted to New York General, he's going to be your boss, Meredith. Your boss! Do you know how this is going to make you look?"

Meredith regarded her mother for a moment before she spoke again. "Were you so concerned about your image when you slept with Richard Webber, mom?"

Ellis gasped as she fought to control her temper. "Careful, Meredith." She warned her. "My relationship with Richard is not even comparable to your relationship with Dr. Shepherd."

"And how is that?"

"Because Richard and I love each other, Meredith. There's a big difference." She replied.

"So, what if I'm in love with Derek, mom? Would that make this an easier pill for you to swallow? Would that make you less embarrassed for your daughter to be sleeping with her professor?"

"You don't love him, Meredith."

"You don't know that." Meredith said sternly.

"You're incapable of loving, Meredith. You're using him to rise to the top and I won't stand for it!" Ellis yelled.

"You're confusing me with yourself, mom." She whispered as she moved towards the door.

"This conversation isn't over." Ellis replied.

"It is for me." Meredith said over her shoulder before exiting the room. She turned the corner and nearly ran into Derek, who was standing in the hallway. He had to have heard everything, but Meredith was past the point of caring anymore. He opened his mouth to say something, but she just shook her head at him and ascended the stairs to her room.