A Healing Heart

Chapter 24

A knock on the door brought Meredith out of her hectic day, Ellyse's birthday party had began just over two hours ago and their apartment was filled with family, friends and two of her daughters small friends from kindergarten. Walking over to the door, she wasn't really paying attention, she was just moving, trying to get back to all the stuff she still had to do.

She opened the door quickly, a welcoming smile on her face like she always did.

"Hey-" she paused when she seen Alex standing on the other side of the door.

He didn't say anything, he just smiled awkwardly, a gift bag in his hand that was obviously for Ellyse and flowers in the other. He shifted uncomfortably as Meredith stared in shock. It was the first time she had seen Alex since the night of the engagement party, a night that no one wanted to remember.

"Hi, I um, I couldn't not stop by on beans birthday." He shifted.

"Ya, um, come in?" She offered quietly. He stepped into her loud apartment, closing the door behind him.

"She's just through there with Derek and everyone else." Meredith said, her fingers tying together.

"How are you?" he cleared his throat.

"I'm fine." she nodded.

"Mer." he sighed.

"No, i'm good, i'm getting there, we all are. I have therapy and a higher dose of anxiety meds but." she looked at him.

"I'm so sorry Meredith. I-I don't even know how to look at you."

Deep inside, she knew that what happened wasn't Alex's fault and she wanted to forgive him so badly because she needed her best friend back but she couldn't help but feel betrayed because if he hadn't had sent her home alone, none of it would have happened.

She took a deep breath before clearing her throat to break the awkward silence that had fell between them. Everything had changed and now things were different between them.

"It's not your fault Alex. You didn't know what would happen."

"It is my fault. I was so caught up in Jo not being able to remember one stupid night that it cost you everything. I never should have let you go home alone in the state you was. I blamed you for something that was out of your control, I'm sorry for what I said to you, you never deserved that."

"I forgive you Alex. You're my best friend, I can forgive you but you need to forgive yourself." she sniffled

"How?" he looked into her teary eyes.

"You just do Alex. Please don't blame yourself. I blamed you, for a while but I shouldn't have, you're not psychic Alex, you can't predict everything." she giggled slightly, her eyes rolling as she tried to lighten to mood.

He looked at her with a small smile, he was so grateful that he had her as his friend. Her kindness and generosity overwhelmed him and he cried.

"Mer, everything okay? Are you crying?" they heard Derek call from the hall as he was making his way to the kitchen.

"Oh." he stopped as he saw Meredith hugging Alex, him clinging to her.

"I came to see bean." Alex pulled away, drying his wet eyes before turning to Derek.

Derek frowned, "bean?"

"Ellyse." Alex and Meredith said in unison, giggling.

***

"I haven't seen you in this long." Ellyse said as she sat on Alex's lap, stretching her arms open wide.

"I know, have you missed me?" he teased.

"Yeah." she giggled.

"I missed you too little bean."

"Uncle Alex, i'm not little anymore. I'm 6." she crossed her arms over her chest making him chuckle.

"Yeah, you're like a stroppy little teenager."

"What's stoppy?"

"You mean stroppy?"

"That's what I said."

He couldn't help but laugh at the big personality in this little girl, she was her mother.

"Ask your mom. She's always stroppy." he chuckled ticking her sides, weight lifting off his shoulders as he listened to her sweet giggle that was absent from him for months.

As he looked around he watched Meredith leaning against Derek, his arm was wrapped around her shoulder bringing her closer as her head rested on his shoulder. He was whispering something into her ear. She looked so content, they fit perfectly together and he was happy to see her relaxed around him. She deserved someone who respected her, something who would never hurt her and someone who would treasure her and by the scene he wad watching, that person was Derek.

Meredith blushed and smiled, her head turning to meet his as they shared a gentle kiss.

***

"Have I told you how beautiful you look today?" Derek whispered.

"You have." she hymned.

"Have I told you how pretty you look?"

"Mhm."

"Have I told you how perfect you look?"

"Oo, that's a new one." she teased.

"You look perfect." Dereks breath tickled her ear.

She giggled in his arms, blushing as she turned around to meet his eyes and his lips.

"I love you." she whispered.

"I love you too. More than ever." he kissed her.

"Shall we go get her cake?" she turned back to resting against him.

"Yeah. She's going to be so excited." he laughed.

They snook off into the kitchen whilst everyone was occupied. For Ellyse's birthday they had gotten a cake made, a pink and white sprinkle cake with standing silver and pink butterflies, it described her personality perfect and they both couldn't wait to see the excitement on her face when she realised.

"Hey, are you okay with Alex being here?" he asked gently, hugging her from behind.

"Yeah, I am. I need to move on and it's not fair that he carried around so much guilt, he's always been there for me and he deserves to be happy. I'm happy, he should get that chance too." she smiled.

"Your amazing."

"I know." she teased.

He chuckled and grabbed the cake, "lets go."

As they made their way outside, Meredith made eye contact with Alex and nodded towards the cake, they both were laughing as they watched Alex try to control a bunch of 5/6 year old's and as Mark had to chase Ethan around whilst Lexie sat back and watched.

"3,2,1, go." Meredith whispered as everyone sat down.

A ring of happy birthdays travelled through the apartment as they brought the cake to Ellyse. The girl was so excited and as soon as she blew her candles out and the cake was put down, she peeped into her parents.

"Happy birthday my special girl." Derek stroked her hair.

"We love you." Meredith whispered as the shared a hug as a family.

***

Hey! My A-Levels are finally over for me, I had my final exam today and it went great so no more school until September for me, which means more writing time! Here's a chapter, there might be more later. Hope you enjoyed. :)