DINNER & DIATRIBES. . . JACKSON AVERY!

chapter thirteen: sympathy for the parents & hook, line and sinner

"I just don't get why he won't answer my calls!" Briar complains, the sound coming out garbled as she brushes her teeth. She leans down and spits the toothpaste into the sink, taking a minute to examine her teeth in the mirror before continuing brushing–and complaining. She's a multitasker.

"Like, when we got a divorce, we promised we would still be friends. We made a contract, I'm so serious. It's notarized. And we've called once a week since then, but I've been calling all morning and he won't answer me!"

"Speaking of divorce," Alex starts, but Briar isn't listening to him, shaking her head in annoyance as she continues ranting.

"And, like, I've been texting him too and I know he got off shift at 8, so why won't he answer? We have a scheduled phone call time for a reason! It's scheduled, Alex!"

"Okay, yeah, that sucks. But about divorce–"

"Alex!" The door slams open, making Briar whine in pain when it hits her side. Meredith gives her an apologetic look before shoving herself inside the room.

"Ow! Mer!"

"Mer?" Alex questions from in the shower. Briar ignores both of them, aggravatedly shoving things aside to find the mouthwash.

"Okay, so Izzie's not here," Meredith starts, pointedly ignoring Briar's mumbled good riddance. "And Cristina's not answering her phone, and–Briar, I thought you were at work, no, wait, I don't care. I have a thing. Alex, I need you to be a girl for me."

Meredith sits on the toilet cover while Alex yanks open the shower door, poking his upper body out of it. Briar grins at the shampoo still in his hair and on his forehead.

"What'd he do? You want me to kick his ass?"

"You can kick Kelly's ass." Briar mumbles, before starting to swish her mouthwash around.

"He wants me to have a baby." Meredith says, making Briar choke. They both turn to her in shock, while Briar blinks at her reflection in the mirror, now covered in mouthwash.

"I just got changed." She sighs to herself, grimacing at the amount of liquid covering the front of her shirt. It was light pink, too . . . Briar doubts that it'll be coming out of the shirt. She really liked that one.

"So you do want me to kick his ass." Alex clarifies, turning back to Meredith while Briar grabs more mouthwash. Hopefully this time it'll stay inside her mouth.

"Alex."

"Do you want to have a baby?" Alex asks her, Briar nodding her head at the question. She hasn't ever heard Meredith say she wants kids.

"A baby doesn't want me. I had the worst mother in the world." Meredith protests, Briar nodding to that point as she stops gurgling, spitting the mouthwash out.

"Hear, hear." She says, thinking about her own nightmares of parents.

"I would be the worst mother in the world." Meredith continues, making Briar frown now.

"Says who?" She asks her.

"Izzie wants a divorce." Alex admits with a sigh, both of their heads whipping around to him. "She sent the papers–the official papers."

About time, Briar thinks, but doesn't say anything out loud. She knows how much getting a divorce hurts, even when it's the right thing to do.

"Want me to kick her ass?" Meredith asks him, making Alex smile.

A knock on the door is quickly followed by Derek pushing it open, blinking in shock at the three of them. "Hey, Alex–"

"He's being a girl for me." Meredith explains, Alex and Briar both nodding.