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GW Robichaux ([info]cajun_devildog) wrote in [info]free_form,
@ 2006-10-15 17:13:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Next Entry
Current mood: anxious
Current music:CCR - Born on the Bayou

Meet the Matriarch
GW had bowed to the inevitable: His great aunt would not leave until she'd met Meredith and had a chance to see her for herself.

That had turned out not to be an easy task. Meredith had been a hard lady to get hold of for a while and he'd been worried about her, then he'd received the voicemail to meet her over at the motel and that had him even more worried. Now he wasn't so much worried about her, he fully supported her in her vendetta against Bowman as long as they exhausted legal channels first.

He was a bit worried about what his aunt might think, but there was no helping that. What would happen would happen and there was nothing he could do.

Tante Marie had been cooking all morning ever since he'd arranged the dinner between the three of them to let her meet Meredith. The smells of good old fashioned cajun cooking made his mouth water, and reminded him of Sunday dinners at her home in his childhood.

He made one last sweep of the trailer to make sure everything was in its proper place. GW wasn't going to have his girlfriend (there hadn't been any 'official' declaration but thats how he thought of her) be introduced to the family matriarch in a messy home.

[OOC: Thread open to Meredith and Tante Marie]


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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-15 15:57 (link)
"Stop pacin', George," Marie called from the kitchen, removing a lid from one pot even as she re-covered another. "De house has been clean all day an' you wearin' a hole in the carpet. Come in here for a bit and taste dis chili. I need to know if it needs sumpin' extra."

The old woman looked out of the window, checking for the approach of Meredith's car. She'd been looking forward to this meeting since she'd arrived in Searchlight, and she ladled out a small portion of chili in a wooden spoon as she looked at the food she'd already set out on the table. She hoped there was going to be enough.

"She don' mind spicy food, does she? I used my grand-mere's recipe for de chili."

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-15 16:18 (link)
Meredith was nervous.

It had just seemed to her that meeting GW's great-aunt had been a big step. They were dating, certainly, but Meredith wasn't sure whether or not she could consider herself and the musician to be an actual 'item'. There'd been no talk of it, or even a label put on their relationship. Not that Meredith needed everything to have a speciic title, it was just nice to know where things stood.

But meeting his family - that was big. It made Meredith believe that things may have started to get serious between her and GW. Then again, she told herself as she walked towards his trailer, that maybe she was looking too far into this.

She'd opted to walk - the Kay Motel where she'd been staying wasn't that far from where GW lived. She also didn't have much with her in the way of clothing. She hadn't been back home to Vegas in awhile, so her appearance probably wasn't the greatest that it could have been. She'd have to make do.

When she reached GW's home, Meredith nervously wrung at her own hands as she climbed the front steps to the door. The smells of homecooking wafted through the air, and with a deep breath, the brunette gave a good rap on the door and waited expectantly.

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-15 16:59 (link)
GW obeyed his great aunt's command and trooped dutifully into the kitchen to taste the chili. It smelled divine, and he soon discovered it tasted just as good as he remembered when the spoon touched his lips.

"Mmmm-mmmm..." Conscious of Marie's eyes on him, he looked down at her and tried to keep his face straight as he told her "Tastes awful bland Tante, you gettin soft in your old age?"

The truth was it tasted perfect, and she'd know he was fibbing since he couldn't help from smirking at her. He dodged a swat from Marie as a knock on the door sounded through the trailer, and he went to answer it.

"Hey Mere," She may have been wearing the same clothes as before, but they were freshly cleaned and presentable, his aunt wouldn't judge on appearance alone anyway. It didn't matter, she looked gorgeous to him and he leaned in to give her a quick kiss and wrap an arm around her.

"Hope you're hungry, Tante's been cookin' up a feast, couldn't stop her."

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-15 17:21 (link)
"Humph," Marie said good-naturedly, listening as George invited Meredith in. The chili pot was covered again, and she wiped her hands on a towel before grabbing the handle of her cane to move towards the living room.

"Its not quite a feast, George," she said with a smile. "Was just hopin' there'll be enough food for everyone, actually. Might not be as good as it is back home, but I hope it'll suit."

Turning more towards the much younger woman, Marie assessed her. An attractive, intelligent face, and while the slight nervousness was noticed Marie made no comment on it. She waited three beats, then offered Meredith her hand.

"Marie Robichaux," she said, her smile widening. "Feel like I been waitin' a long time to meet you, girl. Meredith."

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-15 17:30 (link)
"GW, hey," Meredith greeted the cajun when he opened the door. She was quick to embrace him return, happy to see him as always as she stepped inside his small and neatly furnished trailer. The smell of whatever it was that was being cooked in the kitchen smelled absolutely divine, and Meredith realized she hadn't eaten a decent meal in what seemed like forever.

When the older woman with the cane appeared, Meredith smiled politely at her and smoothed her hands down the front of her jeans before extending one towards her. "Ma'am," she greeted her in a friendly and congenial tone, and took the extended hand in hers for a shake.

"It's nice to finally meet you."

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-15 17:46 (link)
GW watched as two of the most important women in his life at the moment met each other for the first time. So far, so good.

He gave Meredith a squeeze in support and then let go so they could all navigate the door to the kitchen. "Tante's cooked up a good ol' fashioned Cajun meal, I hope you brought your appetite."

That was one thing he wasn't sure about, she still looked a little ragged to him, as if she hadn't been getting enough sleep or enough food. Well, he would have to work on that.

"Want me t' bring everything t' de table, Tante?" he asked his aunt as they neared the kitchen table.

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-15 18:01 (link)
"Thank you, George," Marie said, turning back towards the kitchen. She hadn't missed the squeeze either, and it mader her smile warmer. It looked as though her great-nephew was finally having some luck in getting the ghosts to turn him loose.

She checked the chili one last time before turning the stove burner off, indicated the plates that were still stacked on the counter next to the sink. There had been something very slightly off in Meredith's handclasp, but the old woman supposed there was time enough to poke at the reasons for it. Might have to be a bit subtle so that George wouldn't fuss, but still.

"Reckon to start wit' de salad," she said. "De chili's gonna be heavy and fillin' and I want both of ya'll to eat as much as you'd like. So don' fill up too soon, huh?"

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-15 18:30 (link)
Meredith couldn't help but smile slightly at the old woman's use of the name 'George', as she'd always known the man by GW and GW alone. But it was the familiar way inwhich he and his relative spoke to one another, a sense of family that Meredith so missed in her own life. The only family she really had at this point was an overly fussy demon named Lorne and a man who was no longer alive.

But being in the presence of GW and his great aunt had given the brunette a feeling of inclusion, and there was something between them that she felt the need to belong to.

When Marie had returned to the kitchen, Meredith turned to GW and smiled, albeit somewhat nervously. "Sorry i'm a bit late," she apologized finally, "I decided to walk instead of drive."

She reached out just then and slid her hand into his and grasped it. "Thanks for coming by and seeing me the other day," she whispered with a smile, "It meant a lot to have you there when I needed you the most."

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-15 18:51 (link)
"Yes Ma'am" GW told his aunt, then turned to Meredith as she reached for his hand.

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze "You're a friend Mere, mebbe more dan just a friend non? Anytime you need me, you just give me a shout ok? I'll be dere soon as I can."

With that, GW leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the lips and then went into the kitchen to put dinner on the table.

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-15 19:01 (link)
With the meal properly tucked into, Marie settled back in her chair and observed the younger people at the table. "So, Meredith, George tells me you're an investigator. Are you wit' de police department? Not many women back home go into dat line of work, is it difficult for you?"

Despite her attempts at modesty about the food, everything was very good, and the old woman had made sure to give both George and Meredith generous portions of everything. This was a happy occasion, and she was pleased to see the start of something new for her favorite relative.

Even if she had to meddle to make it go the way it should.

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-15 20:13 (link)
When the meal had been placed on the table before her, Meredith realized she wasn't just hungry, she was starving. She'd managed to sustain herself mainly on Kay Motel coffee and twinkies from the vending machine outside of her room over the past couple of days. That, and the candy hoarde she indulged in the other night when she was having problems sleeping was really the only thing she'd had.

Granted, the last couple days of her life would be considered tumultuous by some, and most people would probably be suprised that she would even be able to eat anything at all, let alone partake in a family dinner.

"I do a lot of freelance work," she answered the older woman with a smile, "I work for myself, not for the police." Especially since as of late, Meredith harbored a particular hatred for anything law-enforcement.

"Behind the scenes kind of stuff," she went on to explain, then meekly looked down at her plate and poked at her food with a fork. "I uh, follow people around with my camera and catch them doing things they're not supposed to be doing. Mainly small jobs for insurance companies looking for fraudulent claims."

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-16 10:44 (link)
GW leaned back in his chair with a satisfied air. The meal had been outstanding as Marie had truly outdone herself, and the good old fashioned home cooking made GW all that much more determined to get back home for Christmas and Mardi Gras. He missed Louisiana, but his place was here in Nevada for now.

"Don't sell yerself short Mere, you do a great job in the private eye biz." He turned to his great aunt "She's also a fantastic photographer, Tante, I've seen some of the pictures she takes for fun."

He'd let Meredith reveal her ability if she wanted, it wasn't his place to say. GW was pretty sure that she knew most of the women in his family were witches.

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-16 14:21 (link)
"Ah, you are an artist, huh?" Marie asked, then nodded as if answering her own question. "Mebbe 'fore I leave I see some of dese pictures too." She drained the last of the tea from her glass, then set it back down.

"You look a little tired 'round de edges," she told Meredith, easing back in her seat to make herself more comfortable after the large meal. "Been workin' too much? Seems like insurance companies could keep folks busy enough so dey don' have to write so many checks. You on a case?"

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-16 23:26 (link)
Meredith sighed and rubbed at the back of her neck with her hand, then pushed some hair out of her face. "No ma'am, not at the moment," she answered the woman, then looked over at GW and forced up the edges of her mouth in a curt smile. There was no happiness in the expression however, and her face quickly changed back to the heavily lined weariness that was clearly evident in her eyes. There really was no amount of smiling that Meredith could do to hide it.

"It's just been a rough week," she said finally, then paused momentarily, feeling guilty for even bringing it up. She shook it off, and looked up at the older woman across the table from her. "Um, anyways, it was a lovely meal, Mrs. Robichaux. Thank you. You're an amazing cook."

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-17 13:38 (link)
GW winced at his aunt's question. He'd known this was a bad idea, but once Marie had her mind made up there was no stopping her.

What he didn't know was how he could gracefully get them out of the hole they were suddenly in. Telling her about Elian's death could open the floodgates to a whole line of questions he didn't think Meredith wanted to answer.

Best to stall and keep the subject off recent events.

"She is, isn't she? De whole family'd go over to her place for sunday dinner each week when I was a kid. Dere's too many of us now between all de cousins, in-laws, and kids, but we still get together on holidays and everyone helps out."

He eyed the apple pie resting on the counter "Anybody want desert?"

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-17 14:12 (link)
"De pie's still coolin," Marie said, unruffled. "But dere's more vegetables if ya'll are still hungry."

George was being evasive about something, she could read it on him even without her gift, and the look Meredith had directed his way hadn't escaped her notice either. Were they having problems already? Oh, but this just wouldn't do at all, would it?

"And t'ank you for de compliment," she added, addressing the remark to both of them. "I learned cookin' from my own mama an' grand-mere. De Robichaux women got two traditions; feedin' folks an' seein' t'ings."

The old woman directed a very slightly arch look in her great-nephew's direction. "Even t'ings dat ain't on de surface, Hmm?"

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-17 14:39 (link)
Meredith gaped slightly.

Right. All the women in GW's family were special. He'd told her that almost the first time he had met her. So far be it from Meredith to even bother trying to mask whatever it was that had been going on in her life, because more than likely, the woman had already seen it.

The brunette silently wondered how much Mrs. Robichaux could actually perceive. Meredith's grasp on psychics only stretched as far as a demon who could only fully read you when you sang, but an empathic ability to know, just by standing next to you, how incredibly annoyed you were at him for trying to even look into you in the first place.

Meredith knew where this conversation was going. And there really was no sense in trying to avoid it. She killed a man in retaliation for killing one of her dearest friends. How much of that could Mrs. Robichaux actually see? With the way she regarded her grand-nephew, would she really want her Georgie consorting with a gun-wielding tempermental Canadian girl with a flamboyant demon for a best friend? Probably not.

There was always been that voice in the back of her mind that had continually reminded her that GW used to be married. She knew what almost from the get-go, and the voice hadn't really bothered her until now, with his great-aunt bearing down on her, that really - could Meredith honestly think she had feet large enough to fill the shoes that were left behind?

She said nothing in response, but only gave GW a pleading look that spoke volumes.

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-17 15:06 (link)
Merde

GW reached over and took Meredith's hand to give it a squeeze and show support. He could tell she was feeling rather vulnerable and unsettled, hopefully this would help put her more at ease.

"Tante, Mere's had a rough week. A friend o' hers was murdered to get t' someone else and she did what she believed she had to do." There. The elephant in the room was out.

If his aunt didn't like it that was just too damn bad. He wasn't thrilled with what Meredith had done but he understood why she'd done it. The vendetta with Bowman was his as well, Elian had been a good man murdered for no good reason.

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-17 15:27 (link)
Marie's weathered face went oddly still at George's remark, and her dark eyes flicked to where their hands were now clasped. She looked at George's serious, earnest face, then at Meredith's uncomfortable one.

"Mmm."

Her lips pursed after another moment, and she stretched one sun-browned hand across the table towards the younger woman. "Give me your han', girl," she said, her tone making it clear that she wanted no arguments. "If dis man here will be still an' stop actin' like he got ants in his drawers, mebbe I ain't got to pry as much. I know he'd rather I not pry a'tall, but an' old woman does what she has to for family, huh?"

This last was delivered with a fond look in George's direction, but there was no mistaking the old woman's intention. 'No' had just been taken off the list of options.

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-17 15:41 (link)
A hesitant look towards GW first, Meredith was engulfed into a literal state of silent panic, second.

Not knowing whether or not to run from the room screaming, or to stay put and face the fire bang on, the karmic user stared numbly at the hand outstretched before her, mentally weighing out her options.

In all due reluctance, Meredith's pale hand finally rose from beneathe the table and slowly, without a word placed it into the hand of the older woman. She had gotten this far, and she swore to herself that whatever happened out in the desert with Grace was not going to affect her. She wasn't going to back down from what she did. Her actions, she felt, were justified, as was her vendetta against the man who had started this all in the first place.

She steeled herself on that thought, her demeanor changing almost instantaneously from meek to incredibly steadfast. Her hand clasped the older woman's a bit harder just then, the expression on the brunette's face clearly reading, 'Bring it.'

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-17 15:45 (link)
GW was not pleased, but saw no alternative to what was about to happen. He kept hold of Meredith's other hand and waited to see what would come of the reading.

At least she was getting some of her fire back, that was good to see.

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-17 16:03 (link)
A frown creased Marie's brow as soon as she made contact with Meredith's hand again, and her work-roughened fingers returned the squeeze as her eyes closed. Better to concentrate that way, to cut out the distractions, no matter how small.

Then she just sat. And listened. Felt.

"Dis was a nice boy," she said after several minutes of silence. "A kind an' happy soul. Good frien'." Images, mostly, and fuzzy images at best. Shards of emotions. Pain, Fear. Anger. Marie shivered despite the warmth in the kitchen. Anguish, both emotional and physical. Agony.

"Takin' a life a serious t'ing," girl," the old woman said, her thumb pressing more firmly into the center of Meredith's palm. There was no censure in her voice, only a strange tonelessness. "Dat other one, she enjoy it, but she warped, twisted, I can feel it. Like dere ain't nothin' lef' but jagged, broken edges. You? You whole. Even with de blankness, you whole. What you gonna fill dat blankness up wit' when you done wit' dis?"

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-17 16:12 (link)
"I.."

Meredith's eyebrows knitted themselves, and she looked away. "I don't know."

She knew what she had to do. But the question of whether or not it would make her feel whole again was still up in the air. She could fight everything that came in her path to make sure Bowman got what he deserved. After all, it was the truest part of Meredith's nature to exact retribution. It was what she was created to do. And she did it incredibly well.

"Elian was my friend," she told the woman with a resolved tone. "He didn't deserve to die."

As if that explained everything.

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-17 16:26 (link)
GW listened with a frown as the women talked. They were both right, but his aunt was more so.

He put his two cents in and turned to face Meredith directly. "Elian was a good man, Mere, an he didn' deserve t' die you bet. But y' can't make it your entire life to avenge his death, love. Would Elian want y' t' be nothin' but an avengin' angel? Would Lorne? Y' can't let it consume you."

He looked at her "I promised t' help ya and I will, but you got t' make sure it don't swallow ya whole."

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-18 13:59 (link)
"Elian." Marie's voice was thoughtful, and her eyes opened a sliver before closing again. "Happy soul, kind and gentle. Got caught in sumpin' that wasn't his doin'. A nice boy." The air in the kitchen had become very still. "He gone now."

The old woman opened her eyes more fully, and she looked at where her great-nephew was still clasping Meredith's other hand. Her lips pursed again, forming an expression of both concern and deep thought. She could feel George's emotional warmth pushing at the edges of the cold that Meredith was trying to wrap herself in. She looked at his face, down at their hands again, then wrapped the fingers of her free hand around her great-nephew's, linking the three of them in a continuous clasp of hands.

"You love my George, girl?"

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-19 00:02 (link)
Meredith definately didn't see that one coming. To her, the question had come completely out of left field, hypothetically knocking the unaware brunette through a loop. A near double take of the old woman followed, and Meredith's brown eyes flinched then widened slightly.

It's not as though the question was relatively hard to understand. It was cut and paste, black and white. However, the degree of difficulty in giving the correct answer would proove much more troublesome to Meredith.

If asked whether or not she loved Lorne, the answer would have come much easier. If she loved Elian? It had already been established. But the kind of love for the two men inwhich she considered to be her only family differed greatly from the type of love inwhich Mrs. Robichaux had been asking about.

"Ma'am," Meredith started in polite protest, "I really don't think it's something we need to be.."

The old woman's gaze could have nearly slapped the brunette into submission. A quick look at GW followed, and Meredith's eyes turned back to the older woman.

"GW and are still getting to know each other," she stated, "Do I feel strongly for him? Yes, of course, and he should know it. But to be perfectly honest - if you want to put a label on this - I don't even know if GW even considers himself to be my boyfriend."

A quick turn of the head and Meredith's eyes looked over at the musician imploringly.

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-19 17:37 (link)
"Tante!" GW's face went bright red, and not from embarrassment "What kind o' question is dat? We only been datin' a few months! How's she gonna know she loves me?"

If not for the fact that it would leave Meredith facing his great aunt on her own, GW would have gotten up and left the room. It was absolutely unfair of her to ask the younger woman that question and she knew it.

But GW listened intently as Meredith replied, and found himself nodding his head in agreement. He focused his eyes back on the woman he'd been dating these past few months, a woman he'd grown quite fond of. "I feel de same way 'bout you. Yes, I do consider myself your boyfriend if you'll allow. I'm mighty fond of you." he paused and rubbed the hand in his with his thumb "Mighty fond, but I can't say if its love yet. It's too soon. Can't said I'd be surprised if dat happens though."

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[info]birthright_npc
2006-10-19 18:20 (link)
"Be still, George."

Marie had spoken right on the heels of her great-nephew's protest, her voice carrying the benignly imperious quality of someone who was used to being listened to and heeded. Merde, but the boy was so skittery!

Then she too listened as Meredith spoke, and she nodded wisely. The girl had a good head on her shoulders, she liked that. "Love keep de darkness out," she pronounced, her hands still interlocked with the two younger people's. "Me and my Charles been married now for over sixty years, and I t'ank de Lord for 'im ever'day. He a stubborn man, but he my rock. Wouldn't have been half of who I am wit'out him."

She paused, tilted her gaze in Meredith's direction. "Labels don' mean nothin', girl," she said with a glint in her eye. "My George, he a good man, but he skittish. 'Too soon', he say. Ain't never too soon." She regarded her younger relative fondly, shook her head.

"I like you, girl," she continued. "An' I'm right fond of dis boy, too, t'ough reckon he gets right pained wit' me sometimes. Mmm. Family. Family an' love. Dat's what matters."

Marie's forehead creased again, and she looked down at where she still grapsed Meredith's hand. "Keep each other close," she said earnestly. "Dis t'ing, dis killin' business, it gonna get ugly 'fore its over. Keep each other close. Otherwise, might swallow both o' ya'll up."

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[info]miss_anthropy
2006-10-19 22:59 (link)
Meredith found that she was able to let go of the breath she was holding. Inside, she sort of thought the woman's reaction to her answer would have been something completely different. But the question was still a bit abrupt, and had Meredith not attempted to quell the invasive nature of it, she might as well have started thinking up names for their children while they were on the subject.

But it was the older woman's last statements that made Meredith stop and think. Family an' love. As much as she hated to admit it, the old cajun was right. What would killing other people give her besides emptiness? She suddenly felt incredibly childish, incredibly small.

She'd spent the last couple of weeks feeling sorry for herself, and not accomplishing anything. And in Vegas, her best friend needed her and she wasn't even there for him.

Family an' love. That's what Meredith decided she needed. Her family. She needed to stop fighting so hard go home to Lorne where she belonged.

But she also needed GW. If it wasn't for him, she'd probably be a lot worse off. He'd been there for her when she needed him the most - he pulled through and didn't judge her after the horrific things she'd done. Surely, he didn't agree, but he understood.

Her hand squeezed his, affirmation that she knew there was something incredible between them that had only just begun. A small smile crept across her face when she looked at him, and then she turned to face the older woman, an expression of resolve clearly upon it. "You're right," she said, finally, her voice quiet.

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[info]cajun_devildog
2006-10-22 09:11 (link)
*end thread*

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