Hawthorne's Crossing

04. More Time

04. More Time

Penelope's world had been turned upside down in the span of just a single evening.

The revelations that had unfolded at the dinner the previous night were still swirling in her mind, leaving her reeling and unsure of how to process it all.

As she made her way through the bustling halls of the hospital the next day, Penelope was hyper-aware of the people around her, her eyes darting from side to side as she tried to avoid any chance encounters with those who had been present at the fateful dinner.

The idea of having to face Maggie and Meredith, the sisters she had only just discovered, or even Richard, the father she never knew, was too much for her to bear in that moment.

Penelope had spent her entire life believing she and Phoebe only had each other, that her birth parents were a couple that couldn't care for them and chose a loving couple who to raise her and her twin sister.

But now, that carefully constructed reality had been shattered, replaced by a truth that was as shocking as it was overwhelming.

Learning that Maggie and Meredith were in fact her half-sisters, and that the esteemed Dr. Richard Webber was her biological father, was almost too much for her to comprehend.

And the knowledge that her mother was none other than the legendary Dr. Ellis Grey, a woman whose brilliance and legacy had long since become a legend within the medical community, only served to compound the sheer magnitude of these revelations.

Penelope had always prided herself on being in control, on having a clear vision for her life and the path she wanted to follow.

But now, that carefully constructed future seemed to be slipping through her fingers, replaced by a reality that was far more complex and messy than anything she could have imagined.

The life she had always known, the one she had worked so hard to build, now felt like a fragile facade, ready to crumble at any moment under the weight of these new truths.

As she navigated the familiar corridors of the hospital, Penelope couldn't help but feel like an imposter, as if she was walking among strangers rather than her colleagues and friends.

The thought of having to face Maggie and Meredith, to look them in the eye and acknowledge the sisterly bond that had been thrust upon them, filled her with a sense of dread and uncertainty.

Would they accept her? And how would she even begin to approach the subject of Richard, the father she never knew, the man who had been a fixture in her sisters' lives while she remained blissfully unaware of his true role in her own?

Penelope's twin sister, Phoebe, had tried to reach out, to offer a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on, but Penelope had steadfastly refused to engage.

The pain and confusion she felt was simply too raw, too overwhelming to put into words.

She needed time to process it all, to try and make sense of the shattered pieces of her life before she could even begin to consider opening up to anyone, even her own twin.

As Penelope made her way down the hospital corridor, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sadness and loss.

The life she had always known, the one she had carefully constructed and meticulously planned, now felt like a distant dream, replaced by a reality that was far more complex and messy than anything she could have imagined.

The security and stability she had once taken for granted had been ripped away, leaving her feeling adrift and uncertain.

It was in the midst of this emotional turmoil that Penelope found herself being pulled into an empty hospital room by none other than Jackson.

The stern look on his face told her that this was no casual encounter, and her heart sank as she braced herself for whatever he had to say.

"We need to talk," Jackson said, his voice low and serious.

Penelope felt a familiar sense of dread wash over her.

"If it wasn't about Alaina, then no, we don't have anything else to talk about," Penelope replied, her voice tinged with a hint of defiance.

She wasn't in the mood for any more upheaval, any more revelations that threatened to shatter the fragile sense of control she was desperately trying to cling to.

But Jackson's response caught her off guard.

"This isn't about Alaina," he said, his brow furrowed in concern. "It's about you, Penelope. I know about what happened at the dinner last night."

Penelope felt her heart skip a beat, her mouth suddenly dry as she realized that her carefully guarded secret was no longer her own.

She had hoped, foolishly perhaps, that she could avoid this conversation, that she could simply bury the truth and carry on as if nothing had changed.

But now, with Jackson's piercing gaze locked on her, she knew that she had no choice but to confront the reality of her newfound family.

"How did you find out?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jackson sighed, his expression softening with empathy. "Maggie and Meredith are my friends, Penelope. They were understandably shaken by what happened, and they confided in me."

Penelope felt a wave of panic wash over her.

Penelope wondered if Maggie and Meredith had shared this information with anyone else, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the hospital staff caught wind of the bombshell that had rocked her world.

She couldn't bear the thought of being the subject of endless gossip and speculation, of having her deeply personal life laid bare for all to see.

"Please, Jackson," she pleaded, her eyes begging him to understand. "I'm not ready to deal with this. I need time to process everything, to figure out how I'm going to move forward. I can't have everyone in this hospital knowing my business."

Jackson nodded, his expression somber. "I understand, Penelope. This is a lot to take in, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel. But you can't hide from this forever. Sooner or later, you're going to have to face it head-on."

Penelope felt the weight of his words settle heavily on her shoulders. She knew he was right, of course. She couldn't keep running, couldn't keep avoiding the truth that had been so abruptly thrust upon her.

But the idea of confronting it, of having to navigate the complex web of relationships and emotions that came with it, was enough to make her want to curl up and hide.

"I just need time," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, Jackson, just give me a little time to figure this out."

Jackson regarded her for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. "Okay," he said finally. "But you can't hide forever, Penelope. This is going to catch up with you, and when it does, I hope you'll be ready to face it head-on."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Penelope alone with her thoughts.

She stood there, her mind racing, as she tried to come to terms with the reality of her situation.

Everything she had known, everything she had believed about her life, had been turned upside down in the span of a single evening.

And now, she was left to pick up the pieces, to try and make sense of a world that no longer felt like her own.

As she made her way out of the hospital, Penelope couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming sadness.

The life she had always known, the one she had worked so hard to build, now felt like a distant dream, replaced by a reality that was far more complex and messy than anything she could have imagined.

She knew that she couldn't hide forever, that eventually she would have to face the truth head-on.

But for now, she just needed time, time to process everything, to try and find a way forward in a world that no longer felt like her own.