Then, Now

Chapter 1

My trial for my medical license was done and we were all in this hotel waiting for an answer. Minutes had passed by, and it felt like hours. " Castello didn't make it!" Teddy says.

"Wasn't me. I didn't kill him." Amelia says.

" Who didn't kill who?" a voice had said.

I remember that voice. I stand up and look towards the opening of the hotel. I walk towards the voice, " Sorry, you look really familiar to my late husband. Who are you?" I ask.

Amelia had noticed too and was right next to me holding my hand and Link was holding her other hand.

" It's me, Mer. Your husband, Derek Shepherd." The guy says.

" You can't be...." I say and I started to hyperventilate. The room was spinning, and I couldn't breathe. 

A couple minutes later and my breathing had slowed down, and I was drinking some water.

I hear the clicking of heels on the wooden floor. I stand up, " Tell me?" I ask my lawyer.

" They are not postponing. " My lawyer says. 

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. 

"Should one of us tell them that their panel chair died? " Amelia says.

"Oh. They'll ask when they're ready. Right know their sending their recommendations to the medical board. " My lawyer says.

"What?" Owen asks.

"Okay." I speak.

"It's a majority vote. So, even if Castello voted to suspend Meredith's license; the other two doctors voted to just drop the entire thing. " My lawyer says.

 A sigh of relief goes around the room.

"It's over. " My lawyer says.

Richard puts his arms on my shoulder, " I still have my license?" I ask.

"Yes! And I'm so grateful its over because you're one of the most exhausting clients I have ever had." My lawyer says.

I give a hug to my lawyer, "Thank you." I say to her, and she nods her head.

I walk to Andrew, " We have to talk. " I say to him, and he nods his head.

Hours later and I had gotten home, and Jackson had run out of the house. " Maggie. I made a terrible mistake. " I said to her. 

"Mer, there is someone in the dining room to see you." She speaks.

I nod my head as an understanding. There is a knock on the door, " I'll get it!" I speak.

I open the door, " Can we talk?" Andrew asks me.

I nod my head and head outside. " What do you want to talk about?" I ask him.

" I heard that your husband is back. Is that true?" Andrew asks me.

I start crying, " I don't know. " I say to him honestly.

" What do you mean that you don't know." He screams.

I cry harder, " I saw him once my lawyer told us that my license wasn't getting taken away." I speak.

"Have you seen him, since then?" He asks.

" I waited until everybody left so, I could say thank you. I didn't see him then." I say to him, truthfully.

" I have to tell you something important!" I say to him.

" What do you have to tell me?" He yells.

Maggie opens the door, " Deluca you need to leave now!' she yells.

Andrew leaves, " I'm.... pregnant." I say almost in a wiser.

" What?!" someone says.

"I'm so sorry, Meredith. I told him that you were busy. " Maggie says.

I bend down to Bailey's height, "What are you doing up?" I ask him.

"I was not tired, mama. " Bailey says.

I pick him up and I walk him back up the stairs into his room and onto his bed. I cover him up, "Is it because your birthday is tomorrow? " I ask him, and he nods his head no.

" Big boys need their sleep 5 s that don't have a bad day on their birthday. " I say.

I stay with him until he falls asleep. I quietly walk back downstairs. "I'm going to bed. Amelia is at the hospital and Evelyn is sleeping. Also, Adelaide is wide awake and in Derek's arms." Maggie said and gave me a quick hug before going to bed.

I went into the kitchen and prepared Adelaide's bottle. Zola walked into the kitchen carrying Ellis. 

"Mama?" Ellis cried.

Take Ellis out of Zola's arms. "Zola, why don't you take this bottle to little Addy and go feed her and I will take care of little Ellie here. " I say and Zola nods her head, takes the bottle and runs into the living room. 

A couple minutes later and Ellis had fallen asleep in my arms. Tears were still apparent on her face. I walk into the living room, and I see little Addy wide awake, and Zola was talking to her, and Derek was sitting on the couch watching Zola interact with Addy. "Zola lets go to bed!" I speak.

" Are you going to work again tomorrow?" Zola asks me.

My smile disappears, " I am and it's not going to be how it was the past year. " I say to her as we walk up the stairs and into her room. 

"Promise?" Zola asks me.

I tuck her into bed, " I promise you. " I say.