Changes
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Prologue.

Part Ten

"Mom, I'd like you to meet Meredith Grey." Derek said, wrapping his arm around Meredith as he said the words.

Meredith looked at the elegant older woman, who was giving her an appraising look and felt her stomach churn. She was not looking forward to this, she didn't do well with inspections.

"Mer, this is my mother, Rebecca Shepherd." Derek continued, motioning to the woman.

"Mrs. Shepherd." Meredith said politely.

"Call me Rebecca." The older woman told her. "After all, you're having my grandchild, we should at least be on a first name basis."

Meredith forced a smile. "Thank you, Rebecca."

She wondered what Addison had called the other woman, probably 'Mom'. She was sure Addison had been the beloved daughter-in-law, while she was just the slutty intern Derek had accidentally knocked up.

"So Meredith, are you from Seattle?" Rebecca asked after a moment.

"I was born here." Meredith answered. "I believe my father was from here originally and that he's still here, but I was raised in Boston."

She saw Rebecca's eyes shoot up when she admitted not knowing where her father lived.

"My parents divorced when I was 5." She said awkwardly. "My mother got full custody. I haven't seen my father since." She figured it was easier to just put it out there like that.

"That must have been rough." Rebecca said after a long silence. "Are you and your mother close?"

"No." Meredith told her. Even before Ellis had gotten sick, their relationship hadn't been an ideal one and now... Now, there was just no reason to even pretend. "We're not. She wasn't around much. I still exchange Christmas cards with my nanny, though."

She didn't know why she was being so... Difficult, maybe just the idea that she had to compete with Addison, with the history and affection. She could see Derek wincing and felt bad, but she couldn't help it. She didn't do families, at least not very well.

To her surprise, Rebecca's face softened. "That must have been very hard. What did your mother do?"

"She was a surgeon." Meredith said and watched Rebecca's eyebrows shoot up. "She was an intern when I was born, now I'm really following in her footsteps. But I'm going to be better. She might be a medical legend, but I'm going to be a good mother."

She was saying it to herself as much as to Derek's mother. She wasn't going to be her mother. She was going to be better.

"I'm sure you will, dear." Rebecca told her. "And I'll do anything I can to help you."

The words were accompanied by a smile and Meredith could tell she was sincere.

It was a start, at least. Maybe things wouldn't be terrible with Derek's family. Possibly. She could hope, right?