Perfect strangers

Chapter 55

Morning came around too quickly for Meredith's liking, as the sun shined through the curtains and warmed her face. It had been a difficult night with Annie, who refused to settle, so now here she was, sleeping peacefully on Derek's side of the bed.

As much as she didn't want Annie to get used to sleeping there, she had missed having someone there, someone to wake up to. She missed it all. More importantly she missed Derek. Deciding not to wait another minute, she slowly pushed herself out of bed and threw hair into a loose bun before moving to scoop Annie into her arms.

Heading downstairs, she placed Annie in her bouncer and covered her lightly with her blanket before moving to start a fresh cup of coffee. Meredith knew that herself and Derek needed this break apart but she couldn't help but hate how quiet it was. She had no one to talk anymore and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and not move. But it wasn't just about herself anymore.

"Mer." Lexies voice rang throughout the house as she cleared the door open before shutting.

"I'm in the kitchen." Meredith shouted back as quietly as she could, so she wouldn't disturb Annie.

"Hey, I was in the neighbourhood and decided to pick some breakfast up for the two of us." Lexie adjusted Noah on her hip before placing a bag on the side. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"I mean what could you possibly be interrupting. It's just me here and Annie is sleeping." Meredith shrugged as she poured herself a large cup of coffee before taking a large sip.

"So no Derek still?" Lexie asked even though she already knew the answer.

"Meme." Noah cheered as she finally lifted his head off Lexies shoulder and held his arms open towards Meredith.

"Hey Noah." Meredith smiled as she ignored Lexies question. "Look at how big you've got!"

She took the small boy into his arms and held him up high, listening as he giggled before moving to rest him on her hip. His small hand reached out and played his fingers across her lips.

"Mer, don't ignore me." Lexie said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Look if you just came here to give me a lecture then you can leave." Meredith turned to stare at Lexie with a stern look on her face. "This doesn't concern you."

"It does when Derek is turning up drunk at our house at all hours!" Lexie snapped. "I mean is this what you want for Annie? I just don't understand how you think this is going to help him get better or more importantly how any of this is benefiting your daughter."

Without saying another word, Meredith walked out of the kitchen and took Noah into the living room. She made sure he was busy with a bunch of toys before making her way back to Lexie, ready for what was going to be another fight.

"Lexie, I'm not having this argument with you. No one knows what was going on, I didn't tell anyone how bad things had got. So don't you dare come in my home and speak to me that way." Meredith kept her composure as she walked past Lexie without looking at her.

"I don't want to argue with you, I just want to understand." Lexie sighed. "It's clear to anyone that you are still in love with one another..."

"Yeah well sometimes love isn't enough." Meredith spat as she turned to face Lexie, tears threatening to fall down her face.

"Meredith, he isn't doing good. He isn't even the same person anymore, he is so quiet and has completely closed himself off. He doesn't talk anymore, all he wants is to come and see Annie!" Lexie exclaimed.

"I'm not stopping him from seeing Annie! So if that's what he has told you then that's bullshit! I've told him that we need a break just for now. I want him to come and see her, I've told him he is welcome whenever but he is the one that is refusing to come and see her! But I guess it's best that he walks away now and not when she is 5 years old and will remember the day that Derek upped and left forever!" Meredith exclaimed as she slammed her hands on the side.

"Mer..." Lexie said as she stepped closer.

"Lexie don't!" Meredith shouted and watched as Annie jumped and opened her eyes wide, tears forming in her eyes as she started to cry. "I think it's time you left." She said as she moved to comfort her daughter.

"Don't do this mer, don't push me away as well." Lexie sighed, knowing she had pushed her too far. 

"Please, I can't do this right now. Just go." Meredith kept her eyes down on Annie, as the little girl settled in her arms and cuddled closer to Meredith's chest.

Lexie didn't say another word before taking her bag back and heading to grab her son before leaving the house. She had gone there with every intention of hopefully helping things but she had only made them worse.

Meanwhile, Meredith continued to comfort her daughter who was now looking at her with her bright blue eyes.

"I promise everything will be alright in the end." Meredith smiled sadly as she let Annie wrap her small hand tightly around her finger. "Me and your daddy love you so much." Lowering her head, she pressed her lips to the top of her head before reaching for her phone.

Pressing Derek's number, she pressed it and waited for him to answer but wasn't surprised to find that it went straight to voicemail.

"Hey Derek, it's me, Meredith. Look Annie is missing you and I was wondering when you was going to come and see her." She sighed before carrying on. "I know we aren't in the best of places right now but you are always welcome here. So, just phone or text me back whenever you can but please just come. Ok, bye love you."

Ending the call, she placed it back down on the table before heading into the living room. As she reached the couch, she found one of Derek's tops abandoned on the back of the couch that had been left there that last time he was there. Reaching for it, she brought it up to her face and breathed it in, relieved to find it still smelled like Derek.

Annie's hand reached up and grasped onto it tight before pulling it down to her face and holding it tight before her eyes slowly started to drift shut.

"I know, I miss him too." Meredith smiled. "So much but at least I have you and you have me. No matter what we will always be me and you, it's us against the world."

Never in her life had Meredith imagined being a mother but Annie had changed her life for the better. It had made her a better and stronger person.

So if it came to it, Meredith knew she would never be alone again, at least she would always have Annie by her side. But she just wished that Derek was still at her side, supporting her through this difficult task of becoming a parent.