samsolace

Dreams of Love

Chapter 31: Glumpy

“So, Zachary, we have our plan, right?”

The child nodded. Meredith and Michele had worked out exactly what they'd need in Italy and in Seattle to set up Internet conferencing for Zachary and Meredith to stay in touch. Meredith couldn't bear to let the child go until she knew she'd be able to see him again. She and Michele had also asked Guiseppe to draw up formal papers for guardianship of Zach to pass to Meredith, and not to anyone else, in the event that Guiseppe died before the child reached eighteen. He consented and those documents were already being prepared by his Seattle attorneys.

Meredith had insisted on purchasing international phone cards for Zach, making sure they were in a plastic sleeve with her own business card, complete with all her and Derek's numbers. She had Michele also include several time difference calculations to make it easy for Zach to know what time it was in Seattle.

“Of course, chances are, as long as I'm an intern, I'm likely to be awake at all hours,” she'd laughed and Zach had solemnly nodded.

The closer he got to departure the quieter and more frightened he became. His initial burst of enthusiasm was gone and he clung to Meredith. She let him cling while she prepared everything as quickly as she could, knowing time was short. She wanted to cling too.

Michele had picked up Zach at the hospital at six and had driven him to Guiseppe to have a leisurely breakfast. Then they'd gone swimming and walking. Guiseppe and Michele had taken Zachary touring and shopping and had finally ended up at Seattle Grace to meet Meredith for lunch. Derek had been in surgery.

“Ah, bella bambina, it is wonderful to see you,” Guiseppe kissed Meredith on both cheeks and hugged her lovingly while Michele and Zachary went to bring them all lunch.

Meredith's heart had warmed at his sweetness. Guiseppe had always been the kindest person she knew. Derek had talked to her half the night before, making her understand that with the Internet and phone system today, people were only a moment away from each other. Guiseppe had been tired and slow the night before, dealing with the stress of meeting a disabled ex-wife he couldn't remember. Derek had reassured her over and over that Guiseppe did love her and so did Zach. Meredith would always have abandonment issues. But, Derek had convinced her that they were doing what was best for everyone, that's all.

“Papà Guiseppe, how are you today?” Meredith had asked, concerned that he was flying the next day.

“I am happy and healthy, bambina, never fear. I have my life, my son, and my daughter. You will visit us, yes? Every year I will bring Zachary to see his mother and sister, but you will also visit us in Roma, won't you? I read the letter I wrote you and I am a greedy man. I have asked God to give me my daughter back as well as my son.”

“Oh, Papà Guiseppe, I have been your daughter since the moment we met. I have never turned away from you. Of course I will be as available as Seattle Grace lets me be,” Meredith had said.

“I wish I could say the same to you, daughter,” Guiseppe had said simply and regretfully, his lack of memory disturbing him once again.

Meredith thought of Guiseppe now as she finished packing Zachary's stuff. How in the world had the child accumulated so much stuff so quickly? Guiseppe had promised to also stay in touch with Meredith as often as possible. After all, he'd winked at her, sooner or later she'd need him to walk her down the aisle, yes? He had to be ready.  She'd blushed at his heavy handed innuendo and he'd gently laughed.

“C'mon, Zach, lets go downstairs,” Meredith said now,

They trooped down the stairs together and joined Izzie and Derek in the living room. Izzie was folding laundry, while Derek was reading the newspaper. Meredith could hear George in the kitchen loading the dishwasher.

“All set, little man?” asked Izzie smiling brilliantly at Zach.

He frowned and nodded sitting close to Meredith on the couch. She took her scrubs from Izzie and started folding.

“We've got the conferencing all figured out. Michele is also going to get Zachary a cell phone with international reach in Italy. Guiseppe said he may be able to come back as early as Christmas or maybe Derek and I can fly out there for Christmas, I don't know. You know we don't get much time. But, I did work Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's last year. Maybe I'll have some time off over the holidays this year,” Meredith said to Izzie, reassuring Zachary again as she went over everything.

“Meredith, what if I want to stay with you? Can I stay?” Zachary blurted, his face pale.

Derek looked up from behind his paper and Izzie paused folding George's scrubs. Meredith smiled at Zachary her most luminous smile.

“Why then, we tell Guiseppe that you want to stay with me and we talk about it. We might be able to work something out. Or we compromise. If that doesn't work, I take Guiseppe to court and fight for custody of you.”

“You'd do that?” Zach asked.

“You're my brother, Zach, of course I'd do that. Don't worry, it's a dirty trick, but I have plenty of money from a recent windfall to use to fight in court. I'll hire the best attorneys there are and fight. I have the advantage that you are an American citizen and he wants to take you to Italy. Of course, I am an intern who works a minimum of eighty hours per week; I don't have much time right now to spend with you, while Guiseppe has time on his hands.”

“You'd keep me if I asked you?” Zachary asked again.

Meredith held her arms out to him and he flew into them, almost strangling her delicate neck.

“I would. You bet I would,” Meredith affirmed, her face pressed to his soft curls, drowning in special little boy scent.

Derek smiled at them. Zachary was giving Meredith exactly what she needed and vice versa. He went back to his paper, tiredly rubbing his neck. It had been a long week and he hadn't slept much last night. He'd had to operate on Ms. Callet today, the other rape victim, to relieve pressure on her brain. She was still unconscious. He didn't think she was going to be as lucky as Ms. Dixon. At least Dr. Stevens was working out. She'd done everything he'd asked by the book. He was impressed with her steadiness so far. The woman had certainly come a long way, Derek thought, watching Izzie resume folding George's scrubs.

“So, if I get to Rome with Papà and I hate everything there, I can tell you?” Zach asked.

“Yes, of course. But, Zach, I know you're going to love it. The best part of my childhood was spent there. It is a beautiful place to grow up and Guiseppe will love you with all his heart. Michele and his brother, Vincenzo, are great friends of mine. I talked to Vincenzo on the phone today and he promised to take good care of you for me along with Michele. Vincenzo just got married and his wife is expecting their first baby. You'll have a new baby cousin to play with.”

“But, when I was in boarding school one time, when I was sixteen, things went bad for me,” Meredith said to Zach, stroking his hair as he cuddled close to her slim body.

George, who'd joined them in the living room with a beer, slowly lowered his bottle and stared at Meredith. Izzie stopped folding Derek's scrubs and stared as well. Neither had ever heard her mention a word about boarding school since her nightmares had woken all of them. Derek lowered his paper again and calmly listened to her try to protect Zachary in a way no one had bothered to protect her.

“What happened?” Zach asked innocently.

“When the headmistresses let me talk on the phone to my mother twice, they stood over me and made sure I couldn't tell my mother they were hurting me. Just in case things go bad for you and you want me to come get you, we'll have a code word you can use, no matter what, okay?”

“I'll keep it secret and only use it in an emergency,” he said excited to have a secret.

“That's right. So what will our code word be?” she asked.

“Glumpy,” Zach said without hesitation.

George and Izzie laughed at that.

“Why 'Glumpy', Zach?” Iz asked, curiously.

“'Cuz that was the name of my best friend's bull dog when I was a little kid,” he said.

Then he added generously, “Meredith, you can use 'Glumpy' too as your secret code word to me, if anyone ever hurts you again, like those head people, okay?”

She snatched him close and this time it was her turn to nearly strangle him as tears sprang to her eyes, “Okay,” she said.

George and Izzie both had to look away from Meredith's face, which was for once completely transparent and far too personal and revealing. Derek laid his paper aside and wrapped his arms around his precious girl and her little boy. He kissed Zach's curls and then Meredith's soft cheek.

“Time for bed you two. We all have to be up at four again. Come on.”

o-o-o