What is Meant to be, Will Be

Chapter 9

As we drove to the nursing home I cried. The last time I saw my mother lucid she was trying to talk me out of med school. I looked down to the ring on my finger, the four karat diamond ring Derek gave me the other night, and a whole new set of tears began rolling down my face. How was I supposed to tell my mother I was engaged? 

We walked into the center hand in hand. Derek was following me but I couldn't go any farther. I can't face my mother. 

"Hey, hey whats wrong?"

I hadn't noticed my tears and Derek looked concerned but calm. He took me into his arms, my face against his chest. He kissed the top of my head when I heard her voice. I turned around and the look on her face was a mixture of joy and hurt. I guess she never thought I'd find someone after what happened between her and Dad. 

"Meredith,"

I ran over to her and hugged her tight. My mother and I were never close, but she is one of the few things I have left.

"Mommy, mommy you're here."

"Yes baby. Shhh, yes I'm here." 

We stood there, hugging, both of us crying silently. I felt Derek come up beside me and put his hand on the small of my back. Mom and I let go of each other and a smile came through her face.

"Lets go upstairs." 

After we got into her room Derek and I sat on the couch and she sat in the chair. 

"What is going on Meredith? I understand I have Alzheimers but I mean with you. Who is this? What is that ring on your finger? Did you go to medical school?"

Derek took my hand and gave me the look telling me that if I needed him, he would be right there. 

"Mom I went to medical school right after you were diagnosed. I moved out here so you could be in Seattle and I could work with Richard Weber at Seattle Grace. This, is Derek Shepard, my fiance. We met at Joe's bar across the street from the hostpital. It was love at first site."

"Dr. Grey,"

Derek chimed in,

"you are very lucky to have Meredith as a daughter. She is beautiful, talented, smart, and the love of my life."

My mother usually easily to predict. I was almost sure she was going t otry and talk me out of getting married. 

"If you're happy I'm happy. It's just too bad that I won't get to really meet my grandkids."

Shit. I didn't tell her the part about me being pregnant. 

"Ellis, if I may call you that, you might have the chance. Meredith and I are expecting a child and she is about seven weeks along. I am going to do everything I can to make sure you meet them, hold them, and love them." 

I didn't want to see the look on her face so I had my head in my hands. I wanted to leave, before my tears just flooded out of my eyes. I felt Derek get up and her sit down next to me. 

"Meredith, I can't believe how far you have come. When you were younger, I was sure I had screwed up. I didn't know how to talk to you. I'm sorry." 

I lifted my head, looked her in the eye, and let a few tears. I could see them forming in her eyes too, and I was crying hears of joy. We sat on the couch hugging, crying, talking, and laughing. All three of us agreeed the best thing was to keep her here until we had a solid plan for treatment. 

Driving home Derek kept looking over and simply smiling at me. Almost laughing I asked,

"Why are you looking at me like that?" 

"You want to have your real mother at your wedding right?"

"Yes of course."

"Lets do it in the hospital. I have a friend back in New York who has been working with Alzheimers for a while and has some amazing research. I can have him scan me copies of his reasearch so we can get her treatment as soon as possible."

It was a good thing we pulled into the driveway at that point because I unbuckled my seatbelt and crawled onto his lap, kissing him for many minutes.

"Derek, I love you. You're not my knight in shining whatever, you are my McDreamy."

We kissed for a few more minutes before his pager went off. Ugh, never a moment alone out of the hospital. 

"It's a 911 from the pit. Want a really cool brain surgery?"

"Derek if you really have to ask we shouldn't be getting married."

We both laughed and drove over to the hospital hand in hand. The sight in the ER, made my pregnant body puke all over the floor. This was going to be a long ass night.