Life Will Out

Chapter 63: Family Dinner and Dress Up

Thursday, November 26

Carolyn Shepherd was in town. She was staying at Meredith and Derek's and insisted that Amelia and Link come to dinner.

Amelia didn't want to go, Link didn't mind and Amelia was going to drag Kate so maybe she wouldn't go down alone.

"Kate are you almost ready?" Link yelled up the stairs.

"Hey yeah I'm here." Kate said.

"Hey Atty can you zip up this skirt?" Kate asked.

"Yeah here." Link said.

Kate had a dark black almost metallic color skirt, a white sweater tucked in and tall heels. She had curled her hair and done her makeup.

Amelia had on a pair of dress pants, a nice sweaters and some cute booties. Her short hair was curled and she did light makeup.

Link just put on a dress shirt and dress pants. He paired with black shoes and and gelled his hair.

-

"Hi Amelia! Hi Link, Hi-" Meredith started.

"KATE." Zola screamed causing Bailey to run behind her.

"Hi cuties." Kate smiled.

"You're outfit is so cute." Zola admired.

"And so tight." Maggie joked.

"Hi Maggie!" Kate smiled hugging her.

"Hi Kate, cute outfit." Maggie laughed returning the hug.

"Auntie Kate will you play with us?" Bailey asked.

"Y-yeah sure." Kate said looking at everyone else for reassurance which made the adults nod vigorously because at least they could have a small break for adult conversation.

"So how are the babies?" Maggie happily asked.

"Growing and kicking." Amelia laughed.

"Please invite me to an ultrasound I desperately want to meet my little nieces." Meredith begged.

"Oh your mom is coming tonight by the way." Maggie said.

"WHAT!?" Amelia exclaimed.

"And your sisters." Meredith cringed.

"You guys suck for not telling me." Amelia complained.

"It'll be okay, we've got this." Link and Derek reassure them.

-

"Okay Auntie Kate, try this on." Zola smiled handing Kate a tiara.

"How do I look?" Kate laughed striking a pose for Zola.

"Great, now put this on." Zola handed Kate a pink boa.

"Okay and what else?" Kate said.

"Hmm I think you look great. Now help me." Zola said.

"Are we wearing these to dinner?" Kate asked.

"Yes definitely. Then we have to do Ellis." Zola smiled.

"Okay for you, definitely the purple and of course the butterfly headpiece but only the one with sparkles on it." Kate played along.

"Ellis what color do you want?" Kate asked softly.

"Red, like a ladybug." Ellis answered sweetly.

"Okay baby there you go, you look pretty." Kate smiled wrapping the boa around Ellis' neck.

"Okay Bailey what do you want to do?" Kate asked.

"Play soccer please." Bailey said hopeful.

"We can do that." Kate smiled kicking her heels off.

They walked downstairs and snuck into the back yard. Bailey and Kate while Zola watched with Ellis.

"You're not very good Auntie Kate." Bailey laughed.

"I know, I skate Bailey not play soccer you goober." Kate laughed almost tripping.

"Don't trip." Zola laughed.

"Can we play?" Ellis asked.

"Yeah come on." Kate said.

Zola and Bailey played together laughing at how bad Kate was.

"Kate, we should have a tea party." Ellis said.

"Okay, Zola and Bailey keep playing I'll be back." Kate said her hand being held by Ellis.

They sat at a small table in the backyard. Ellis poured imaginary tea into Kate's cup.

"Okay so you drink like this." Ellis said sticking her pinky up.

"Like this?" Kate copied her.

"YES." Ellis exclaimed happily.

Kate sipped air until Ellis got up from her little plastic chair and snuggled into Kate's lap.

"You're really fun Auntie Kate. I think my siblings love you a lot." Ellis said sleepily.

"Well I love you guys a lot too." Kate said trying to hold back tears. These little kids who were now her nieces and nephews had moved their way into the soft spot in her heart.

-

Everyone was at the dinner table. Kate and the kids couldn't stifle the laughter for how they were dressed.

The doorbell rang and Amelia's face went pale.

"It'll be okay, I've got you." Link said holding Amelia's hand.

"So do we hate her?" Kate asked.

"She resents me but I don't know." Amelia sighed.

"Grandma!!" The kids exclaimed as Carolyn walked in.

"Hi babies, hi Derek, hi Meredith, hi Maggie, hi Atticus, hi Amelia. And oh I don't think we've met." Carolyn said gesturing to Kate.

"Kate Miller." Kate smiled reaching out her hand.

"Are you related to the rest of us?" Carolyn asked.

"Yes she's auntie Kate!" Zola exclaimed.

"Auntie Kate?" Carolyn questioned.

"She's my sister." Link spoke up.

"Amelia how are the babies?" Carolyn asked.

"They are fine." Amelia gritted through pain.

"So Kate how are you related to the rest of us?" Carolyn questioned.

"I was engaged to Atty a while ago but we broke it off and he is more like my brother now." Kate explained.

"So you're the family whore?" Carolyn asked.

"Mom." Derek said.

"No no it's okay. " Kate said sitting straight up.

"I've heard a lot about you Carolyn. And frankly I'd rather be the family whore than who you are. You're a god awful mother, you resent your youngest child and play favorites to the ones that treat her like absolute shit! Atty and I are nothing these days. But him and Amelia are something and they would like your acceptance and support instead of the time you called her a druggie, a whore and a gold digger. I don't get why you think it's okay to treat your child like that, she is your daughter and above all she might be my favorite person in the world. She is funny, and kind. She brings my stupid self back down to earth and she is going to be a perfect mother to her beautiful baby girls. If you can't respect her and her accomplishments or more importantly how fabulous she is then why are you here!?" Kate spat out.

"Thank you." Amelia croaked out, tearing up.

A/N: hey guys i know it's really early in the morning when i'm posting this but i've had a really long day and i might forget tomorrow morning so here we are!