(Shattered...) Dreams Fulfilled

Promised Dreams - Part 4

A/N: This one is super long and the longest one yet. Word count 14,837.

Meredith now understood the magnitude of Derek's revelations about his father, about his need, after being silent so long, to have a conversation with him on their way to Venice; appreciating the deep void the man had left with this death as mother and son shared fond and heartwarming memoires of Irish with her.

"It's unusually quiet here," they heard Nancy's voice, and Meredith followed the voice to the kitchen, leaving Derek alone with Carolyn, but before walking away she kissed them both; a tender kiss on the cheek for her; a light brush of his lips with hers.

"Kat," Meredith could make out Nancy's quiet voice as she neared the kitchen, "you really think Meredith's ok? She's amazed me, how strong she is. I think I'd have been a mess...in the same circumstances...Kathleen, can you imagine, none of us have gone through that and if we had, at least we'd have each other. She told me it had helped a lot that you were there," she spoke unaware of her sister's own miscarriage years before; "and I've tried, but I don't know how else to keep changing topics, away from the baby and kids..."

"You don't have to," Meredith said, surprising them and joining them at the kitchen table. "I'm ok...really...Derek and I...we talked, because yesterday and last night were rough, but we're ok...thank you, both of you for caring."

"You can talk to us," Nancy said, "either of us...though I know you'll probably be more comfortable with Kathleen or Mom," she smiled, "and that's ok...just remember what I said."

"I'm going to take you up on it," she said, "Kat's put up enough with me...and Derek," she laughed, "she even told me we were exhausting and she'd prefer a house full of teenagers than to deal with Derek and me."

"Totally out of context," Kathleen said.

"I know," Meredith said and in a most unusual show of affection, which seemed to be happening a lot lately, rested her head on Kathleen's shoulder, "I got the better deal, you told me...I had a big sister for life."

"You do," Kathleen smiled, and hugged her in a motherly gesture, "don't ever forget it."

"Nancy," Meredith said, "Kathleen already knows...has seen and heard the worst of me...and somehow...she didn't care. I hope you know how much it means to me that you were willing to give me, our relationship, a second chance."

"Meredith," Nancy said, "we're beyond that. We agreed."

"Yes," Meredith said, "we did."

"Meredith," Nancy said with deep sincerity, "I'm the one that's grateful for that second chance. I was really out of line in Seattle."

"I can understand, now that I've met all of you," Meredith commented, "how this family cares for each other, that you were only concerned for Derek. Not every sister would fly across the country, practically overnight because he missed the holidays...it's about family...I'm getting it."

They continued to talk quietly, Meredith filling them in on Maggie being asleep and meeting the Andersons.

"Mr. Anderson soon became Mr. C for us, all seventeen of us," Kathleen said fondly, "but then, he became Grandpa for the kids. We were not happy at first, but Mom...she said Dad would be proud..."

"They are lovely, he and Grace...they insisted I use their first names," Meredith told them. "But why seventeen kids, oh wait, you're including Pat and Alice's kids."

"Yes," Nancy said. "I think he was really a great friend to Mom when she needed it most, you know, since both had gone through a traumatic loss of their spouses, very different of course, but they were both lonely and he looked after us all, especially," she went on, "that for a while Tom, who by the way was also a Navy commander, was traveling a lot, so Charles was the only male figure around. Well, not literally since there were aunts and uncles, but he was right next door...and that's when the idea of the baseball games started...and...I wondered sometimes," she revealed something new to her sister, "if the two of them could have been a couple..."

"Nance," Kathleen said, less surprised at the context of the comment, than the delivery, as she'd often thought the same way. "Did you just hear yourself? Meredith, she rambled...like the best of us," and the three women laughed, and made their way to the swing on the back porch.

"Didn't Kevin say it was contagious, being around Meredith?" Nancy joked. "Though I thought it was only when one visits Seattle."

"You'll have to find out," Meredith told her, "when you visit us again...if it's as bad here as it is there," and with that, the two women who'd had a very bad first encounter, further accepted the other as part of their future.

"Before Nancy's ramble," Kathleen joked, "I'd have said it would be worse in Seattle, especially with Lexie and Meredith together, but now...I'm not so sure, since all of us I think have managed some pretty impressive rambles...including Aunt Pat."

"Kathleen," Meredith giggled, "maybe...it's a sign of another condition. You remember, that Kevin said you rambled when you were pregnant."

"Meredith," Nancy told her, "I believe you're as bad a troublemaker as any of the Maloney women," and they all laughed again.

"I'm only saying..." Meredith teased, "that Aunt Pat's certain any one of us...well you know...that the five of us could be contributing to those twenty one grandkids."

"Oh God," Nancy said, "Kat...can you imagine a sixth child now?"

"No," Kathleen said with certainty, "because I know I'm not having one."

"Neither am I," Nancy told her and then said, "but, just in case I'm going to sweet talk," she laughed, "rather sex...talk Mike into a vasectomy," she said and again the three of them laughed.

"Nancy," Kathleen asked later, "were you serious...I mean about Mom and Charles, you've never said that before...and I've thought it too...just never said it."

"Yeah," Nancy said, "I did...but I was glad it hadn't happened. Which is probably very selfish, but it was comforting that Mom had never considered being with another man but Daddy," she said using the childhood name that symbolized the years of innocence of their childhood.

Nancy's openness made Meredith feel very at ease with both of Derek's older sisters, and as the early afternoon progressed, they shared several other anecdotes as their frequent laughter echoed the sounds of healing and bonding.

"What are you laughing about," Maggie said as she joined them, the remaining grogginess of an afternoon nap evident in her features.

"Kelly," Kathleen said, "one of Derek's patients, has them wrapped around her little finger," she offered as way of explanation, respecting Meredith's wishes that nothing be mentioned of her miscarriage. "Meredith was telling us why Derek made the comment about learning about kids from the Mulligans, rather than from us. She also met Charles and Grace."

"They are lovely, part of the family," Maggie smiled. "I gather they're joining us."

"For a bit only," Meredith told her, "the flight back from Bangkok was fifteen hours to Los Angeles, and then another five to New York. But they said they wouldn't miss a family game for anything."

"Did you tell Meredith," Maggie asked, "how close we are to them?"

"Yes," Meredith said. "It's really incredible, how generous he is. It's not everyday someone wills their property...as he has."

"He always said," Kathleen commented, "the best day of his life was the day he moved in next door, even though he didn't know it at the time, but that he finally had a family. Daddy," Kathleen said, just as Nancy had earlier, "would have liked him. They're both honorable men."

"We're closer to them," Maggie said smiling, "than some of our aunts and uncles, and of course Grace became Nana Grace to the grandkids."

Derek joined them a while later, and sat next to Maggie and Nancy, "we've hardly talked since I've been here," he said to Maggie, "we've talked more on the phone. I can't get over how tall the boys are...seems as though they've grown a foot each."

"I was so surprised," Meredith said, "they look so much alike, I mean, there's photos, but seeing them here, they look as though they could be twins."

"Believe me," Maggie said, "it felt like I had twins when they were little," and she paused and smiled. "I wish double strollers had been as popular and inexpensive back then," she laughed. "But, we'd already had John...and for Jason I used Jennifer's stroller, thank God Nancy had opted for a very neutral practical color."

"Maggie," Meredith asked, in some way, wanting to assure Kathleen, Nancy and Derek that she was able to handle talking about kids and babies. "How far apart are the boys? They really do look like twins."

"Jason is actually a couple of inches taller than JC," Maggie smiled, "John Christopher became JC, after he'd come running to me whenever I said John. Their birthdays are five days apart...not quite a year between them."

"As in before he turned a year?" Meredith asked.

"They couldn't keep their hands off each other," Nancy said, "and she didn't think to ask me about birth control...unbelievably going along with the old wives tales that if you are breast feeding you can't get pregnant."

"God," Maggie said, "I felt like I breast fed for two entire years...but poor Jason got the short end of the stick. I only breast fed him four months, and stopped when I went back to school."

"You were in school when you had them?" Meredith asked, "but wait they're a year apart...and you said two years."

"I'm exaggerating," Maggie laughed, "it felt like I was feeding two kids at the same time, JC drank milk like a little pig, and I literally went into labor while breastfeeding him."

"You breast fed him till he was almost a year old," Meredith exclaimed in what could be interpreted as shock or horror, "and you were in labor...with a second one."

"Enough breast feeding and labor stories," Nancy said hoping to change the subject without being too abrupt. "Your stories are enough to make anyone reconsider having kids."

"You're not being very encouraging," Meredith giggled, "is she Kathleen?"

"The minute they place the baby in your arms," Maggie smiled at her, "you forget absolutely everything...and there begins the most beautiful of love stories," she told her. "Trust me, there's nothing like it in the world."

"I'm going to believe you," Meredith said as she smiled at Derek, "for when the time's right for us. But, if you're wrong," she said to Maggie, "we're sending you the kids every summer," and the five of them laughed at Meredith's use of Maggie's threat to send her kids to them.

"First you get mine," Maggie laughed, "though maybe I should wait to send the teenagers too, or they may decide they don't want any kids at all."

"Hey," Nancy said, "you're talking about my godson."

"And mine," Kathleen said, "and they are both really great teenagers."

"They really are," Maggie smiled, "my babies," she momentarily became lost in thoughts of them as infants, "that now tower over me."

"Girls," Carolyn called out from the kitchen door, "who's going to volunteer to wake up Jenna? They've been asleep well over two hours, and we'll never get Meghan to sleep tonight if she sleeps any longer."

"Why do you need a volunteer?" Meredith asked.

"Sweetheart," Carolyn laughed, "because Jenna loves to sleep and hates to be awakened."

"Mom," Maggie laughed, "I think the exception to that is Rob...waking her."

"Well," Carolyn laughed, "that may be true, but he's not here..." she winked at Meredith, "and it's not morning, as she's made her preference well known."

"Carolyn," Meredith laughed, "you're incorrigible as well."

"She's right Meredith," Nancy joked, "Rob's the only one bearing gifts of sex."

"You had to go there," Derek said and laughed. "Come on Mer...we have time for some sex of our own," he said and pulled her from the bench across from him and into his lap.

"Show off," Kathleen said, "but, just all talk..."

"All talk," Meredith roared laughing.

"We didn't need earplugs last night," Maggie laughed, "and Mark has warned us..."

Meredith smiled as their eyes met and she leaned in to kiss him, "we did good," she whispered upon his lips.

"We did," he chuckled and brushed her lips.

"No secrets," Kathleen said and smiled, "I'm speaking for Jenna."

"By the way," Nancy said, "Meredith, we ...I'm speaking for the sisters, except this one," she pointed to Kathleen, "she took a million photos at the wedding. But, we want one of the ones the wedding planner sent you from Venice, with the whole family and one of you and Derek, I loved the ones you gave Kathleen and Mom."

"I can send those," Meredith said, surprised at the request.

"We have photos from all our weddings, so yes, we want them," Maggie said. "We'll get the frames...don't worry about that."

"Actually," Derek said, as he caressed her thigh, "Meredith bought frames for you."

"I wasn't sure," Meredith said, "before...if you'd want them, so I didn't send them...but I have them...I'll send them when we get home."

Maggie turned to Nancy, "I told you...she wouldn't mind if we asked."

"Kathleen," Carolyn said, "Alice is not home, please go check on the lasagna."

"Shit," Kathleen said, "I forgot."

"Good thing," Nancy said, "our tiny watchdogs aren't around, you actually said bitching earlier and Meggie somehow missed it," and they all laughed; knowing as soon the younger granddaughters descended upon them, they'd need to keep the language clean.

"I'll go wake Jenna," Meredith said, "she won't get mad at me. I'll remind her I'm the baby's godmother. Which by the way," she said to Carolyn as she walked past her in the door way, "I want to hear your explanation to Meghan about that."

"I'll let you know," Carolyn laughed, "when I figure it out. Better yet, let's pass it on to Pat, that's her job."

"Thanks," Derek addressed his three sisters when Meredith left, "for making her feel welcome...for accepting her...you have no idea how much that means to me."

"I think we do," Kathleen said. "We have a lot to thank her for as well; she brought our brother home and our family together again."

"You did that Kathleen...you and Mom...and the two of you and Jenna...the day we were married, your messages...and support...I won't ever forget that."

"We're family Derek," Maggie said, "you can't forget that...and ...we could have been there...to help you when you left here," there was a slight hint of accusation.

"Girls," Carolyn said, "let's look to the future...leave the past behind us," she said, and Maggie also understood she was reminding her of their earlier conversation.

"Wanna bet on Jenna's reaction?" Nancy said.

"My money's on Meredith," Kathleen said as she got up to walk over to Kevin's parents. "No doubt about it."

"Mom," Nancy said, "I'll help you," giving Derek and Maggie some time together.

"How are you?" Derek asked his sister. "Something's going on with you."

"Yeah," she admitted and rested her head on his shoulder, "but I don't want to talk about it anymore today."

"Huh...that's what the nap was about...sleeping it away," he said.

"Yeah..." she said, "lots of thoughts going on in my mind..."

"How can I help?"

"You already have. Being here...believe it or not...it's making me think a lot..."

"About what," he said, knowing she'd get around to talking to him when she was ready.

"Family...how lucky we are; how lucky we were to have Mom, that there are five of us."

"Uhmmm...." He said, and any brainlessness accusations would be moot now, because, in this case, no words were needed for him to understand that Maggie was thinking about children. "I'm a phone call away Maggie, anytime...just one call, five hours away non-stop, if you need me."

"I've been thinking," she said after a long silence between them, "if you really don't mind...I'd like to visit you...you've found peace in Seattle, I can sense it...even though," she said, "I can tell, you too have something on your mind. But, I won't press you about it either...maybe...it's just something for both of us...to talk about...away from here...at another time."

"Of course I don't mind," Derek said immediately, "you can visit anytime."

"The boys, all three of them, want to go camping," she smiled as she included her husband in that description. "The kids, can't wait to visit Uncle Derek's wilderness, especially after Kev got back, but John and I think it will be better in the spring or summer."

"They can always stay in the trailer. It's heated...and throw some sleeping bags on the floor," Derek told her.

"Mom was threatening to forbid any of the grandchildren to visit, until she was sure there were no bears on the forty acres," Maggie told him.

"I've never seen any," Derek told her.

"Derek..." Maggie said, "I'd have to kill you...if there are bears there...and you send my babies camping amongst them."

"Maggie," Derek reached for her hand, and as they'd had growing up, few words were needed between them, "come visit...sooner rather than later...I think it will be good for both of us."

"After the baptism," she said quietly. "I've been thinking about it...right after the holidays...if you really don't mind."

"I'll expect you...just give us a couple weeks notice, so Meredith and I can coordinate the time off, it shouldn't be any problem."

"Derek," Maggie said, "you could have been here for the shower. You chose not to."

"Yes," he told her.

"Is everything ok?"

"It is now," Derek told her, unwilling to lie to her, though he knew her well enough to know it would affect her to learn what had happened, and she would not be able to keep Jenna from noticing. The two sisters were the closest of the four sisters, and there were few times either one could keep something from the other. "But, like you...I'd prefer not to talk about it...we will...when you visit."

"Ok," she said, as they sat in companionable silence.

"Just one question?" Derek said, and she nodded her consent.

"Are you and John ok?"

"Yes. I think so. Are you and Meredith ok?"

"Yes, we are more than ok."

"I like her a lot," Maggie told him. "I'm happy you found each other."

"So are we," he smiled, and shortly thereafter he reached for her hand and pulled her along with him. "Let's go on the swings," he smiled at her, both remembering the often used carefree escape of childhood, "I'll push."

Meredith, meanwhile, had reached Jenna's slightly ajar bedroom door and heard Meghan's chatter, presumably talking to her mother. But, as she was ready to knock on the door she heard a soft snore and smiled; sneaking her head in she saw that Jenna was sound asleep, or rather snoring as she lay on her side, while Meghan was reading a book to her bear and pony, but the minute she noticed Meredith at the door she smiled and brought her finger to her lips as she pointed to her mother.

Meredith walked over to her and picked her up, along with the book and bear and pony and went to the window seat, and held the little girl on her lap. "Did you nap?" she spoke very quietly.

"I nap with Big Bear and baby pony," she whispered back, "Mommy still sleeping...but baby sister is not sleeping no more."

Meredith smiled at her, "how do you know that?"

"Cause I was sleeping ...and my face was close to Mommy's tummy...and my baby sister kicked me and I waked up."

"You didn't go back to sleep?"

"No...cause Big Bear and baby pony waked up and they wanted to hear a story."

"You were reading them a story," Meredith said and waited for her to continue.

"Yep...Cinderella...but I no read the story...cause I little Aunty M, I tolds them the story."

"Ah...you want to tell me your favorite part of the story," she said and the little girl shifted in her arms holding the book in her lap. Meredith smiled, and allowed herself to think of the day when she too could be having a similar conversation with her daughter

"I love how they got mawwied and she goes to the ball..." Meghan said with excitement, forgetting about keeping her voice down, and Meredith noticed Jenna was no longer asleep.

"I'm not sure I remember the story...it's been a long time since I was a little girl," Meredith prompted her, "but is there a mouse in the story?"

"Yes..." Meghan told her, "the mouses help her," Meredith smiled at the mention of mouses rather than mice, and imagined her own kids would likely say the same at three years old.

"And what else do you like about the story?"

"When the mean sisters ripped her dress..."

"You liked that?" Meredith asked, unsure how to respond or interpret Meghan's comment.

"Yes," Meghan smiled, "cause the fairy godmother camed and helped her...and she gots to go to the ball...and see the prince and they got mawwied..."

"They sent you to wake me up," Jenna said as she lay back on the bed.

"Mommy," Meghan said, "you waked up, I telling Aunty M a story."

"I heard you," Jenna said.

"Do you need help getting up?" Meredith asked her.

"I'm ok," Jenna laughed, "not quite beached yet...give it another week."

"Mommy," Meghan said, "my baby sister kicked me and waked me up."

"Did she?" Jenna said as she turned on her side and very clumsily got up.

"Yep...and she waked up Big Bear and baby pony."

Jenna went in the bathroom and joined them on the window seat a few minutes later as Meghan continued her interpretation of Cinderella. "Do you know if she'd been up long?"

"She'd just opened the book when I peeked in, so I guess that could mean it was just starting or it was starting over." Meredith told her.

"You won't need as many kid lessons as Derek," Jenna smiled.

"Hi Mommy," Meghan smiled at her and kneeled on the seat to reach her mother and kiss her. "We gets to play baseball..."

"No," Jenna kissed her back and hugged her, "we get to watch...remember you have to be nine to play on the team..."

"No fair Mommy," Meghan pouted.

"You get to keep me company...and Katie...and Emma, isn't that better than running around and getting all sweaty and dirty..."

"Cause I a princess?"

"Yes," Jenna smiled as the little girl pressed her cheeks together, "you're Mommy and Daddy's princess."

"I your princess Aunty M?"

"Of course you are," Meredith said, after a brief pause when she looked at Jenna, and she nodded.

"I love you Aunty M..."

"I love you too sweetie," Meredith said as the felt the little girls arms around her neck.

"Do you gots a baby in your tummy?"

Jenna had looked out the window and was distracted as she saw Derek and Maggie walk over to the swings, and missed the barely audible intake of breath.

"No sweetie," Meredith said.

"Cause why?"

"Because," Meredith said, her pause long enough for Jenna to take notice, "Uncle Derek and I just got married, so it's too soon for us to have a baby."

"Cause why?"

"Meggie," Jenna said, "remember what Mommy told you, it's not polite to ask ladies if they have babies in their tummies."

"But she's my Aunty M..."

"Yes, but I told you, we only talk about babies in Mommy's tummy."

"Cause the baby got there cause Daddy kissed you."

"No," Jenna said, "because Mommy and Daddy love each other."

"Ok," Meghan said, "Mommy I gots to go to the bathroom."

"Should I help her?" Meredith asked.

"Do you mind," Jenna said, "it's not as easy for me anymore."

Jenna heard the constant chatter of her three year old and Meredith's giggles as Meghan explained the need to wash their hands and how that's why she had the step stool, "and we sing Happy Birthday two times, to wash our hands real good." The little girl than told her mother she was going to go put her friends to sleep in Granma's bed and she wanted to go downstairs for a snack.

"You got a couple kid lessons in there," Jenna laughed. "She was with me at the grocery store several weeks ago, and I died of embarrassment when she asked the cashier if she had a baby in her tummy."

"She didn't," Meredith laughed.

"She was a really good sport, and told her no that she was drinking too many sodas, so I had a talk with her after that, but as you can see...it didn't work."

"She's very precious and adorable, she reminds me of Kelly, one of Derek's patients," Meredith said.

"I remember Mom talking about her when she came back from Seattle, how he'd operated on her before your wedding trip and she'd become very attached to you both.
So," Jenna smiled, as she instinctively rubbed her belly, "those are the Mulligans you're taking lessons from?"

"I think," Meredith said, "we'll need plenty of those from all of you too."

"We keep trying," Jenna went back to the original conversation. "Not to equate kissing with babies, but some kids in her class hear that from their parents. Can you imagine?"

"No," Meredith said horrified at the thought. "We'd have hundreds..."

"Exactly," Jenna said and Meredith followed her gaze toward the backyard.

"Jenna," Meredith said, "I don't mean to pry...but she seems sad at times."

"So do you," Jenna said, "you get very quiet...pensive at times."

"I'm not..." Meredith denied, "just that...being with family...it's all new to me."

"You're not prying...we're family...we can ask things," she said, but was interrupted from saying anything else when Meghan ran in the room.

"I ready Mommy, I hungry," and pulled on her mother's hand to get up.

"Cowards," Jenna said as she walked in the kitchen where Derek and Maggie had now joined the others. "You sent her to wake me up."

"She volunteered," Nancy told her, "said you wouldn't get mad at her."

"Something about being the baby's godmother," Maggie said.

Jenna reached for Meredith's hand and placed it on her belly, "she was right, she calls the godmother card, and I wouldn't get mad," she smiled at her daughter's gentle rolls, "she has a good effect on her...always calms her," she said as Meredith looked at Derek and they exchanged a private and understanding moment.

Hours later, Meredith was up at bat, score tied, one out, bases loaded; she had two strikes.

"Come on Mer," Jenna yelled from the bleachers, "think of the most brainless thing he's ever done."

Meredith looked over at Jenna and laughed, then concentrated on the ball, and had one thought, Rose...and the ball met the bat and kept going and going, and she had a home run, and the game was up four runs, and she was met with hugs and cheering from her entire team.

"Shep," Mike, called out to him, "whatever she was thinking," he walked over to him,
"you must have fucked up bad..."

"There's been quite a few times," Derek admitted.

"Hey," Mike said, "I was joking around."

"I'm not," Derek said, and did not expect for Meredith to come running over to him.

"Did you see that," she asked filled with excitement, "my first home run...ever."

"I did," he said and went along with her playfulness, "I want you on my team."

"Derek," she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I'm always on your team."

"Knock it off you two." Nancy called to her, "Meredith, he's on the opposite team."

"Aunt Meredith...stop kissing him...he's on the wrong team," Rebecca, Nancy's nine year old, yelled.

"I love you," she said, "let me go back to the game."

"Mer," he couldn't help but ask. "What were you thinking of...when Jenna said..."

"I hit a home run," she gave as an answer and ran back to her teammates.

"Meredith," Grace Anderson said as she smiled at her, "you were right, in going to him. His entire face lit up when you ran over there."

"He's..."

"I know," Grace smiled again just as her husband joined her, "your McDreamy."

"You know about that," Meredith said.

"Kathleen told us after her visit," Charles told her, "and we couldn't wait to meet the girl he'd fallen in love with. We have not seen him this happy...I have to say...I've never seen him as happy as he is now."

"I feel the same way," Meredith told the couple, and suddenly, couldn't help but think of Esme and her dying wish.

"You know," Grace told her, almost as if reading her mind, "after Carolyn told us about your very romantic wedding, and showed us the photographs, Charles surprised me with a trip to Venice...and we took a gondola at sunrise..."

"The Bridge of Sighs," Meredith smiled.

Grace smiled. "My hard core military navy commander became an incurable romantic."

"That's what Derek did for me," Meredith said to her, "made me believe in romance."

"Meredith," Derek called out to her, as it was his turn up at bat, "can I have a kiss...for good luck?"

"You better not," her teammates called out to her, which she happily ignored, and went up to her husband as they exchanged their look, and then erupted in laughter as they heard Kathleen's voice.

"Nance, Maggie...Jen," Kathleen called out to them, "remember Mom's mcdreamied story...take a good look."

"There's kids," Meredith said, "do we care?"

"Do you?"

"Uhmmm..." she said as she cupped his face and kissed him hard, but he softened and then deepened the kiss; then he hit a home run, and was first welcomed at home base by his wife's embrace.

"So much for cheering for your team," Amanda, Nancy's ten year old daughter complained.

"They've ruined it," JC, Maggie's fifteen year old lamented.

"Actually," Maggie said as she put her arm around her son's shoulders, "they've made it better...much better," she said as she searched for her husband's gaze and smiled.

Meredith noticed the three youngest cousins talking, Meghan and Katie looked very animated telling a story to Emma, yet Kathleen's youngest put her head down and she saw Meghan lift her cousin's face and talk to her, but Emma was having no part of it, so Meghan ran to Jenna who was one of the few sitting on the four rows of bleachers that were permanently set up in the over three acres of property that belonged to Charles Anderson, and one day would become Shepherd-O'Reilly patrimony.

Then unexpectedly, Meredith had Emma at her side, and looked up at her seriously, "my Mommy loves you," she said with the candor of an eight year old. "But, you don't like me."

Meredith was completely stunned, "Emma, why would you say that?"

"You spent all the time with Katie and Meggie, but not with me," she said with the saddest expression Meredith had seen on any of the Shepherd grandkids.

"Emma," Meredith paused to find the right words to say, and lowered herself to meet the little girl's gaze, "of course I like you...but, sweetie you've been in school all day, and we only had a little time to spend with everyone before you had to go to bed last night, but I promise I like you...I've heard so much about you from your Mommy and Daddy...and your Grandma...and I'd like to spend time with you too," Meredith said, scared to death about what you actually talk about with an eight year old.

"They're not your favorite nieces?" she asked Meredith.

"No sweetie...I have no favorites..."

"That's what Grandma says..." Emma told her.

"And she's right," Meredith told her.

"Meggie says you played with her this morning," Meredith's wheels were turning, when did she play with her? Meghan read her a story not the other way around, "and she and Katie got to cuddle with you and Uncle Derek...that's like favorites."

"Emma," Meredith took her hand and walked with her to the bleachers and sat down, "Meggie's a baby...she thinks she's all grown up, but she's little, and this morning, she woke up and she couldn't find her Mom and Dad and I heard her crying sweetie, so I had to get her and cuddle with her...you wouldn't want her to be upset and alone crying..."

"I love Meggie," Emma told her, "I don't like it when she cries and she's upset...and Katie...cause they cry like aunt Jenna...and that's a lot," she said, and Meredith tried to keep from smiling.

"Maybe it's because your Aunt Jenna's having a baby, and you know when women are pregnant," she hoped this child was as smart a Kathleen said she was, "they tend to be very emotional and sentimental."

"That's what Mommy and Aunty Nancy explained to me, cause of hormones," she said, and Meredith could actually believe she truly understood.

"Yes, that's right."

"Aunt Meredith," she said, "I'm smart...Daddy says I'm very smart, but...I'm still a little girl too...and I like to cuddle."

"Oh sweetie," Meredith said as she hugged her close to her, "even when we're all grown up we like to cuddle."

"That's what Mommy and Daddy say," Emma hugged her tightly, "cause they love each other a lot."

"That's right," Meredith said, as she kissed the top of Emma's head, and thought, boy, was she getting kid lessons in two days.

"Is that why you kiss and cuddle with Uncle Derek...and you're always hugging and touching? Because you love each other so much...like my mom and dad?"

"Yes, we do love each other very much."

"Aunt Meredith," Emma seemed to pause before she spoke, with all the innocence of a much loved eight year old, "I heard Mommy talking to Aunt Nancy when she got back from Seattle...the first time she was there, and she told her she better be nice to you...because Uncle Derek was finally happy...and it was because of you...and just for that reason...she already loved you, but that she also loved how special you are."

"You heard all that," Meredith said, her eyes misting as the little girl nodded. "Well, you know what...when I first met your Mommy, I knew she was very special too...and it made me very happy that she was going to be my friend."

"Mommy said...she was glad you could be friends, and I don't know what Aunt Nancy said, but Mommy told her she better stop being ...I'm not supposed to say that word, but Mommy said it...bitchy...and give you a chance...cause she already though of you as her sister."

"Can you keep a secret?" Meredith asked, and the little girl was delighted.

"Oh yes...I can keep secrets...but you have to tell me they're a secret so I know."

"The next time Uncle Derek and I come to visit, what do you say if the two of us spend some special time together?"

"But," Emma thought about it, "Uncle Derek was gone a long time..."

"We're going to be back soon, when your Aunt Jenna's baby is born."

"Meredith," Carolyn called out to her, "you need to get out on the field."

"Aunt Meredith...if I sleep at Grandma's," Emma asked, "can I come cuddle with you and Uncle Derek...before I get old...and I'm still little to cuddle?"

"Yes, sweetie," Meredith caressed her face gently, "you can come cuddle with us anytime."

"Aunt Meredith," Emma smiled at her, "I know why Mommy loves you."

"You do," Meredith smiled.

"Cause you're really lovable," Emma said and hugged her, and melted Meredith's heart.

"So are you sweetie," Meredith said, as she swallowed past the lump in her throat, marveling at the unconditional love from a child she hardly knew.

"Meredith," Patricia called out, "get out to the field, and do not flirt with Derek, no matter how hard that seems to be. Pay attention to the game."

"She's very bossy," Emma looked up to her, "you better do like she says."

"I think you're right," Meredith said, and ran over to take her position on the field.

Meredith's team won by three runs and the boys were claiming it wasn't fair since they had ruined the competitive spirit of the game. Jason, Maggie's youngest had complained bitterly after his mother, had actually kissed his father after he'd scored a run. "Mom, Dad...stop that, you're on opposite teams. You're supposed to want the other team to lose. Uncle Derek..." he yelled out, "tell Aunt Meredith it's not supposed to happen that way..."