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Chapter Twenty One: Something To Talk About Part One

Meredith and Derek somehow managed to be civil with each other throughout the day while the rumor mill was going into over drive about Addison and Mark Sloane now christened McSteamy by every female member of the staff at Seattle Grace except the Nazi a.k.a. Miranda Bailey of course. All of the civility between Meredith and Derek came to an end when Addison started speaking to Meredith about her appointment with her after lunch.

“Dr. Grey I presume I’ll be seeing you in my office this afternoon at around 12:30 or one o’clock?” Addison asked double checking as she checked her blackberry.

“Yes Dr. Montgomery I set up an appointment at one. Is that okay cause I can come up at 12:30 if that would be better for you?” Meredith offered with a genuine smile.

“12:30's fine Meredith. I’ll see you then and I really hope we can be civil like we were that day in the cafeteria.”

“Me too. So I’ll see you at 12:30.”

Addison nodded and just as she walked away she was replaced by her soon to be ex husband Derek who immediately began to interrogate Meredith about the nature of the conversation she was having with his ex wife.

“Why would you have an appointment with Addison,” Derek asks, “Since when do you and Addison speak so maturely and civilly toward one another?”

“My appointment with Addison and its reasons are for me and her to know and that’s it. As for being mature and civil we’re both trying something new okay? Sometimes Derek you have to realize when to grow up and it’s time that I grow up.”

Derek was about to say something when George walked by and he watched Meredith instantly become pale and green around the gills. Quickly he reached behind the nurses’ station and grabbed a trash can and handed it to Meredith who made quick use of it.

“Mer are you sick?” he asked concernedly as he brushed a lock of hair away from her eyes.

“No, I’m not sick.” Meredith said so softly he barely heard her.

Meredith sighed as she sat down on the floor with her back to the nurses’ station’s desk and knew that this was part of being a grown up. She had the one night stand with Alex and now she was pregnant but there was still the possibility that Derek was the father of her baby. Normally she hated the phrase better late than never but after finding out her boyfriend her dreamy, dreamy boyfriend had a wife sometimes it really wasn’t better late than never. Sometimes you just had to tell someone something you didn’t want to because it was the right thing to do.

Being a grown up sucked, she reasoned in her head.

Before Derek had a chance to sit down next to Meredith Alex walked over and saw her sitting on the floor looking particularly pale and lost. Sighing he knew what she was debating and got down on the floor next to her while Derek watched as he gently stroked her face and pulled her into a warm embrace whispering words of encouragement in her ear. Suddenly he felt like he was going to be sick.

“If you want to tell Shepherd about the baby go ahead Meredith but just remember there’s a big chance this baby could be mine but regardless of the out come I’m not going anywhere.” Alex assured as he continued stroking her face.

“I don’t deserve you being this nice to me and caring so much. I really don’t but I want you to care about me this much and be this nice to me. How can I do this to you? How can I care about you as much as you care about me? When I don’t deserve it.” Meredith sobbed clinging onto his scrub top.

“You do deserve it Meredith and you give as good as you receive. I never had anybody set up a roof top picnic for me or make me want to give out roses and play secret admirer. I always thought those things were stupid but you made me want to and I’ll never stop doing things like that because I love you.”

Meredith smiled as she wiped her eyes and stood up and faced Derek. With her hand in Alex’s she gave it a squeeze and knew she had to tell him she was pregnant. It was the best thing to do for everyone no matter what.

“Derek, I’m pregnant.”