You're Still the One

What's in a Name

"I think we should move somewhere else, don't you Ms Ross?" asked Jessica

Jessica hoped to do some damage control. The conversation coming up didn't need to be done in front of the entire firm. She looked at Meredith Ross, believing that she, like herself, wouldn't want her or Mike's childhood trauma becoming common knowledge for the entire firm.

"I think we're done actually. I don't think we need to continue. Mike will be coming home with me now, he'll be back tomorrow Harvey, if that's okay with you?"

Meredith was done. She didn't feel like spilling any more of her family's secrets at Pearson Hardman, they had enough gossip to last the next year and the last thing she wanted to do was make things harder for Mike at work.

"I'll see him tomorrow, Meredith. He's in my office with your son now, I'll take you there now" replied Harvey

"We'll accompany you. We never found out about Mike's degree or his age, Jessica. We can't have someone who hasn't gone to Harvard working here and I don't know think we should have a 22-year-old on staff either" said Louis

Meredith simply nodded before looking at Harvey and following him as they walked. The four lawyers all began the walk to Harvey's office in silence. Harvey wanted to know more about Mera, or Meredith apparently, but didn't think she would tell him anything in front of Louis or Jessica. He did realise her behaviour when they met each other made a lot for sense, considering the kid.

"I thought you said Mike was here?" asked Meredith once they reached Harvey's office.

"I told Mike to come here with the kid" Harvey said, as he walked into this office.

"Mike and the kid just went to his cubicle" said Donna, walking into the room.

"EJ, not the kid" said Meredith.

"Like MJ, that's what you called Mike, right?" asked Harvey, continuing when Meredith nodded, "Two Juniors, huh? Michael and E-something Junior?"

"No, James" Meredith said laughing, "Michael James and Edward James."

"James?" asked Harvey, motioning everyone to take a seat.

"Our father. We're all named after someone in the family, a bit of tradition our parents started" said Meredith, seating down near Harvey,

"All three of you?" asked Harvey, curious about how Meredith could follow this tradition.

"Mom liked the idea of honouring family members by using their names for children and Dad couldn't say no to Mom. Mike is named after our Gramps, Michael, and Dad, James. I did the same with EJ, Edward is after our Grammy, Edith or Eddy as Gramps used to call her, and I combined it was our Grandfather's names, Howard. Mum did the same with me when she named me."

"Mike's mother named you?" asked Harvey.

"Yes, she did, I was renamed after the adoption. Mum wanted to honour our grandmothers, Miriam and Edith, and she got to Meredith or Mera and then Dad wanted to honour Mom and so I got Nina as well."

"Renamed?" asked Louis, reminding Harvey and Meredith that they were not alone.

"Yes, when Mom and Dad were adopting me they asked if I wanted my old name or if I wanted them to name me, and since I didn't even know my birth name, I asked them to name me."

"You didn't know your name?" asked Jessica

"Birth name, my birth parents didn't use it and when I was placed in the orphanage, I didn't understand what it was, I didn't interact with anyone anyway, so my birth name wasn't relevant. I only started to talk when Nina, Mom, was assigned to the orphanage. It felt right for her and Dad to name me, they were my parents in every way that mattered."

"I like Mum's version of the story better."

Mike walked through the door saying, carrying EJ and his shoulder bag. EJ started to squirm in Mike's arms until he was let down and then made his way over to his mother, dragging Mike by the arm as he went. Once he settled on the couch between his mother and Harvey, EJ looked around.

Mike let himself he dragged completely used to that behaviour from the almost four-year-old. He silently laughed to himself at the looks on the lawyers faces when EJ stared at them, it was easy to see that they were out of their comfort zones, all of them except Harvey and Donna, but Donna is Donna, so nothing fazes her. Mike was surprised with Harvey, he thought Harvey would flip out about a toddler in his office, but Harvey looked fine, he was just looking between EJ and Meredith.

Do they know each other? Harvey did call her, Mera. How does Harvey know my sister?