After Afterall

23

I'm in the lab when Alex walks in. I glance up from the papers I've been reading through. "Hey."

"Hey," he says and lets the door shut behind him.

"What's up?"

"Nothing." He plops down on a stool across from me and starts fiddling with my papers.

I watch Alex for a few seconds before asking, "Seriously, what's up?"

"The house is quiet all the time," he says with a sigh. I remove the papers from his hands. "And there's no one to share pizza with or watch surgery tapes with. I've been staying here almost every night because I hate how quiet the house feels."

"Invite some of the paparazzi in. They'll keep you company."

"There are no paparazzi anymore."

"Really?"

Alex meets my eyes. "Yeah. They stuck around for a week after you went public, but they haven't been back in almost a month."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Why? Are you considering moving back in?" He looks hopeful.

"Believe me, if I could I'd be back tonight."

"The President's still keeping you on a short leash?"

I roll my eyes. "It is not like that."

Alex laughs. "I hit a nerve."

I pick up my pen. "I will jam this into one of your nerves and make it look like an accident."

"Ah Grey, I've missed you. Seriously though, how's it going with all that?"

I lean back in my chair and fiddle with the pen. "Derek is incredible. He's kind and funny and he's got the hair. He's perfect for me and I'm happy."

"Okay," Alex says and he looks skeptical. "What about the fact that he's also the President and dating him has flipped your life upside down. What about that?"

"Oh, that."

Alex nods. "So we're not discussing it?"

"There's nothing really to discuss. Do I want to be dating the President? Would I've chosen this life for myself? No. But I choose Derek and if that means I have to spend almost seven and a half years smiling into cameras and wearing big fancy dresses, then I'll do it."

"Seven a half years, huh? So you're planning for the future."

"Yeah. So?"

Alex grins. "The Meredith Grey I know doesn't make plans."

"Well, maybe I've grown up."

"Maybe," he agrees.

The door opens and my mother gives me a nod. "Meredith, Doctor Karev," she says.

Alex stands. "Good to see you, Doctor Grey," he says to my mom and walks towards the door. "I'll see you later, Mer." None of my friends stick around when my mom shows up. They used to be scared of her, but it feels like it's more about the Alzheimer's these days. Either way, my mom never takes notice or if she does, she doesn't seem to care.

My mom takes Alex's seat. "Working on the clinical trial?"

I slide the papers I've been mulling over to the side and turn to face her. "Uh, actually—"

"Huntington's Disease cures?" she interrupts, glancing over the paperwork. "You know there's no cure, right?"

"I know." I place a folder on top of my research. "This is more of a personal project. So," I move to change the subject, "what are you doing here?"