#caregiver meredith grey

[cianmarstoo]

Alex settles in with his family, working through his intern year, trying to reach his resident year while causing a lot of trouble along the way both while he's 'big' and when hes dropped. Meredith and Derek try to assure Alex that he's enough, and try to adopt him as their son. Featuring a lot of fluff, hurt/comfort, and angst, a lot of family feels and making their own family with their Seattle Grace friends.

[anewkindofme]

Thank you for the tag @im-overstimulated-and-im-sad

I’ve been working on the next “Anonymous Ones” for like 3 days and it’s a very slow process. So, here’s a look at Alex and Jackson’s talk.

———

“Can we talk alone?”

Meredith tilts her head and raises a brow. “Alex…”

“I’m not going to beat him up or anything!” Alex practically whines. “I just want to talk without the four of you hovering around.”

Addison, Mark, Meredith and Derek all exchange some looks, clearly having a silent conversation. Alex is staring at Jackson now. He doesn’t look pissed off like he did the night before. In fact, he’s kind of hard to read. Not completely embarrassed but also not friendly. Jackson tightens his arms.

Mark looks back at Jackson. “Are you okay with that Jack?”

He isn’t sure. But he also remembers Mark saying something about how Alex regresses younger than Jackson. Not by much. Jackson usually regresses at around 2-3 years old, if not a bit younger sometimes. Alex falls between 18 months to 2 years. If he can handle talking alone, then Jackson can too.

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

Mark arches a brow. “You sure?”

“Uh huh. Can we just get this over with?”

Mark gives him a stern look but it doesn’t last very long. Instead, he squeezes his shoulder. Meredith points to a spot halfway onto the grass.

“You two can go right there, no further. We’ll sit at the table. One sign of an argument and you’re coming back here.”

Jackson nods. “Yes, ma’am.”

Meredith wrinkles her nose but Alex is already striding for the designated spot. Jackson slowly follows behind him. Realistically, he figures Alex won’t start a fight. Unless he’s trying to bait him again. Jackson sticks his hands in his pockets. There’s no way he can punch him if they’re in there.

Alex glances over his shoulder once they’re there. Their foster parents are gathered around the picnic table, watching them.

“Fuck,” Alex says.

Jackson furrows his brows until he sees Alex staring back down the field. He shrugs and turns back to Jackson.

“Alright, we’re good.”

“Huh?”

“If they could hear us, Derek or Meredith would lecture me for cursing.”

———

No pressure tag: @snowviolettwhite, @cianmarstoo, @actualalligator & @the-flaming-nightmare

[sundrop-writes]

if Mike fell asleep with you...

Word Count: 750

Horror Characters Masterlist

Warnings: this is mostly pure fluff - Mike and the reader are in an established relationship, the reader's gender is not described in any way (the main pronouns used are you/yours), Mike calls the reader angel, the reader takes on a caregiver role for Abby, mostly just short and fluffy. This is set before the main events of the movie, when Mike is working as a security guard at the mall.

A/N: So, I've seen so many people in the tags going 'just let him sleep!!! that man is so exhausted!!' and saying that he's too tired to fuck in the way that people are writing fanfics about him. And as much as I love super horny fics, I do thought this up, because I agree - the man should be allowed to sleep. This is largely inspired by that scene in Grey's Anatomy where Meredith walked in and Owen was asleep on Cristina's chest while she was reading a book (I think it was when she was reading through Mer's mom's diaries?) - anyway. I love that scene so much because it shows how easily he sleeps around her because he's so comfortable around her. And that's why it deeply inspired this. Let him sleep.

...

Mike was exhausted when he came in the door. 

He heaved out a sigh as he closed the door behind him, toeing off his shoes - pure, stiff tiredness radiating through his whole body in the worst way. 

You knew that sound anywhere. 

“Long day?” You inquired gently from your position on the couch, lightly craning your neck to look at him. 

He shuffled further into the house in an almost zombie-like fashion, only giving you a solitary grunt in response. 

You felt kind of bad that he had been stuck at work late when you had been lucky enough to have a morning shift and been treated to a relaxing evening with Abby. She was a relatively easy kid to take care of, and generally fun to be around. 

And after you had put her to bed, you laid out on the couch, relaxing and reading a novel that your friend had recommended. Generally, you were having a nice evening. And it seemed that Mike was not. 

As you kept an eye on Mike, you folded over the page of your book to mark it and put it on the coffee table for later. 

“Dinner’s on the counter.” You told him. “I made lasagna. I can heat it up for you if you want.” 

You hated that before he started dating you, all he knew was freezer burnt crap - but you were slowly showing him how to cook, and a world of vegetables that didn't come in a can. 

Mike took off his jacket and the heavy belt he had to wear for work (his large walkie talkie and his taser were in his locker at work, as mandated, but the thing was still damn uncomfortable) and he hung them both up. 

He didn’t respond to your queries about dinner as he walked around the couch. Instead of speaking, seeing you laying there so relaxed - the sight was all too inviting, and he eased himself to lay on top of you in a form of very natural intimacy before he grunted a few words into your neck. 

“Did Abby eat?” He asked softly as he laid on top of you. 

It was oddly comforting to have the bulk of his weight on top of you, especially as he melted against you, letting out a small moan as the tension melted out of his bones. He adjusted himself to get more comfortable and his face rested against the softness of your chest - you glanced down to see that his eyes were drifting closed. 

“She ate two platefuls, and had some peas.” You assured him. “Did her homework, had a bath, and she practiced her spelling words before she went to bed.” 

Mike grunted again - a more positive pitch to this one. He couldn't ask for anyone better than you. Sometimes he worried about her - all the time. But when Abby was with you, that worry lessened a lot. 

“You’re an angel.” He hummed against your chest. “I don’t-” He let out a gentle yawn. “I don’t know how I got so lucky with you.” 

“You look hot in a uniform and my job at the bookstore gets boring.” You replied, half-joking about the circumstances of how your relationship with Mike had formed. 

You reached out to him and began running your fingers through his hair, soothing him even further into the realm of sleep with the comforting touch. 

He let out another tired moan in reply - something that almost stretched into a rolling sound with the gentle pleasure of your hand in his hair. With the way his body was so slack against yours, his breathing even and quiet, you knew this was only leading one place. 

“You wanna go get ready for bed?” You asked gently. 

“In a minute.” He answered softly, barely parting his lips to get the words out. 

You glanced over to the table and reached out, picking your book back up as his breathing deepened and his body went even more slack. You were preparing to get comfortable for the next few hours. You weren’t all that tired yourself, and you still had a few chapters left to go. When you got to the next chapter, he began to snore lightly and you felt drool dripping down your neck - which didn’t bother you all that much. You found it cute, in fact. 

You were comforted by the fact that he relaxed enough around you to get such a good sleep. You knew that he needed it. 

...

A/N: also, this is my first time posting a fic completely from mobile by copy/pasting something from google docs on my phone. So hopefully the formatting isn't too messed up and hopefully this goes well! And I hope you guys enjoy this short fluffy fic 💖

[perfectpaperbluebirds]

Birdie’s Library of Sick

Here is a complete list of my longer fics. Regularly updated as I post, including all posted Sicktember fics. Full steam ahead for sneezes + fevers!

List is now revamped! Organized alphabetically by fandom/AU, then chronologically by date written within the subcategories (in most cases). Because I’m a nerd and I wanted all my darlings to be grouped together most efficiently.  Fics marked *** are my favorite of the things I’ve written... my greatest hits, if you will. Those are the ones I come back to read time and again when I’m in certain moods. Please check those out if you haven’t before, and reblogs are always appreciated!

Also, I have even longer stuff posted on AO3 under the same name (PerfectPaperBluebirds) so head on over there for even more sickfic goodness.

My ask box is always open for prompts! I’m always up to try something new, so if there's any aesthetics you want to see, please send them my way :)

Fandom

The Black Tapes Podcast:

Better Now 

(SKT ‘21) Sneezing 

***(SKT ‘22) Care Package 

(SKT ‘23) “But if you stay, you’ll get sick too.” 

Bridget Jones’s Diary:

(SKT ‘22) Taking a Sick Day (Bridget Jones’s Diary)

(SKT ‘23) Consulting the Internet 

Criminal Minds:

(SKT ‘21) Nebulizer (Sick Reid)

(SKT ‘21) Warm Soup (Sick Hotch)

Colder Weather (Sick Hotch)

Maybe Tomorrow Will Be Better (Sick Reid)

(SKT ‘23) Sick and Injured (Sick Morgan)

Encanto:

***(SKT ‘22) A Cry For Attention (Sick Bruno)

(SKT ‘23) Hiding an Illness (Sick Julieta)

Grey’s Anatomy:

(Secret Santa ‘22) To Make You Well (Sick Derek)

(SKT ‘23) “Did you just sneeze?” (Meredith Allergies)

Hannibal [TV]

***House Calls Pt. 1 (Sick Will)

***House Calls Pt. 2  (Sick Hannibal)

(SKT ‘21) Asleep on the Couch (Sick Will)

(SKT ‘21) Sick at Work (Everyone sick)

(SKT ‘22) Common Cold (Sick Hannibal)

(SKT ‘22) Tepid Bath (Sick Will)

SKT ‘23 Hopelessly Bad at Self Care (Sick Will)

Howl’s Moving Castle:

(SKT ‘21) Sneaky Temperature Check (Sick Sophie)

(SKT ‘23) Coughing Fit (Sick Howl)

Jurassic World: 

***(SKT ‘21) I’m Not Sick (Jurassic World)

(SKT ‘23) White Coat Syndrome

Knives Out:

(SKT ‘21) Headache/Migraine 

(SKT ‘21) Appendicitis [emeto]

(SKT ‘23) Beginner’s Guide to Faking Sick 

Letterkenny:

***(SKT ‘21) Bed Rest 

(SKT ‘21) Hot Water Bottle 

***Tender Loathing Care 

(SKT ‘23) Preventative Measures (Not Taken) 

MCU:

***(SKT ‘21) Fever [Sick Clint]

(SKT ‘21) Medicine (MCU Avengers AU) [Sick no serum Steve]

(SKT ‘22) Painkillers [Sick Tony]

(SKT ‘22) Hangover [Sick Thor] [emeto]

***(SKT ‘22) 'Great. Now I Have Your Germs All Over Me.’ [Sick Clint and Natasha]

(SKT ‘22) Seasonal Allergies [Sick Clint]

(SKT ‘22) Nausea/Upset Stomach [Sick Bruce] [emeto]

***(SKT ‘22) Whining/Crying [Sick Natasha]

(SKT ‘22) VapoRub [Sick Bucky]

(SKT ‘22) Lethargy/Exhaustion [Sick Steve]

(SKT ‘23) “I should have stayed home.” [Sick Steve)

New Girl:

(SKT ‘21) Faking it (Sick Jess)

(SKT ‘21) Ginger Ale and Crackers [emeto] (Sick guys)

(SKT ‘23) “What happened to your phenomenal immune system, huh?” (Sick Schmidt)

The Office:

(SKT ‘21) Chicken Pox (Sick Jim Halpert)

(SKT ‘21) Quarantine (Sick Michael Scott)

(SKT ‘22) Intense Coddling (Sick Ryan Howard)

What A Lovely Way to Burn (Sick Ryan Howard)

(SKT ‘23) Patient Zero (Sick Andy Bernard) 

Pride and Prejudice:

A Darcy Day Off

Reunion 

***(SKT ‘21) Contagious

***(SKT ‘21) Stay (Follow-up to Contagious)

Cold Comfort 

Eyes On You 

(SKT ‘23) “Wear a coat, you’ll catch cold.” 

Star Wars:

***(SKT ‘21) Aches and Pains [the Mandalorian]

(SKT ‘21) Unlikely Caregiver (Rey and Kylo)

***Safe and Warm (Follow-up to Aches and Pains )

(SKT ‘23) “I shouldn’t be worried about you, but for some reason I am.” (Rey and Kylo)

Historical/Fantasy OCs

Cowboy ‘Verse:

***(SKT ‘22) Home remedy

(SKT ‘23) Persistent Fever 

DnD OCs (Filius, Gundor, Kandry, Lorellyn):

***(SKT ‘21) Blankets

(SKT ‘22) ‘Do You Know How To Take Care of a Sick Person?’ 

***(SKT ‘22) Sleepless Night/s 

(SKT ‘23) Quest for a Cure 

Navy Man OCs (Capt. Michael Ingram):

Tidings of Comfort (Holiday fic 2021) [emeto]

(SKT ‘22) Homesick 

(SKT ‘22) ‘I Might Be A Teeny Tiny Bit Sick, But It’s Fine.’ (Follow-up to Tidings of Comfort)

(SKT ‘23) Sick in an Inconvenient Place 

Roaring Twenties ‘Verse (Jesse Hamilton):

(SKT ‘21) Missing Out (Roaring Twenties, Holiday fic) [emeto]

(SKT ‘23) Terms of Endearment/Nicknames

Plague Doctor OCs (Alastair and Eliza):

***The Doctor Is In... the Inn 

(SKT ‘22) Soft Pajamas

(SKT ‘23) Confused/Disoriented 

Science Lovers OCs (Peter and Violet):

***Under the Willow 

(SKT ‘22) Sunburn

(SKT ‘23) Old Wives Tale

Sorcerer ‘Verse OCs (Elmrador Renata and Co.):

Spells and Sneezes

Powers and Flowers 

(SKT ‘22) ‘Blow Your Nose’ 

***Curses and Comforts (Follow-up to Powers and Flowers )

(SKT ‘23) Magical Remedy/Healing Potion [emeto]

Sprite Kingdom (Aleander the Healer)

Icing and Frosting (Sprite Kingdom)

(SKT ‘23) Side Effects/Adverse Reaction 

Vicar ‘Verse OCs (Nicholas and Lydia Lennox):

***A Virus for the Vicar

(SKT ‘22) ‘Get Back in Bed!’ 

(SKT ‘23) Anxious Stomach [emeto]

Wagon Train OCs (Dan and Ella)

Here Comes the Sun 

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

(SKT ‘23) Uncooperative Patient 

Historical/Fantasy OC one-offs (for now):

An Artist’s Study on Illness (Italian Artists)

To the Place I Belong (Vampire ‘Verse, Halloween 2022)

Modern OCs

CottageVersity OCs (Tenbusch family):

***Miserable At Best  (All sick)

***Mess Is Mine (Thad & JB, JB sick)

***(SKT ‘22) Psychogenic Fever/Stress Induced Illness  (Thad & JB, JB sick)

(SKT ‘22) Cold Sweat (Theo sick)

(SKT ‘22) Cuddling on the Couch (Thalia & Padma, Padma sick)

[the Meet-cute!] Pretty Girls and Starting Conversations (Thalia & Padma, Thalia sick)

[CW: Homophobia] The Last Christmas (All, Thad & JB sick)

Holding Onto Me So Tight (Thad & JB, both sick) 

Sick of It (All, Theo/JB/Padma sick)

(SKT ‘23) “The only place we’re going is the pharmacy.” (Thalia sick)

Priest ‘Verse (Father Luc and Flora):

***(SKT ‘22) Tickle in the Throat [Sick priest] (The Beginning Pt. 1)

Feel My Temperature Rising [Sick Priest] (The Beginning Pt. 2)

I Can Go No Longer (Sick priest)

Cheer My Wearied Spirit (Sick Flora)

Feel My Temperature Rising (Sick priest)

(SKT ‘23) Curled Up With a Pet (Sick priest) 

Rockstar ‘Verse (Vic and Addison):

***(SKT ‘22) Syncope/Fainting 

(SKT ‘23) “You’re a jerk when you’re sick.” 

Shane and Molly (Shmolly):

[the Meet-cute!] Let Your Heart Be Light (Sick Shane)

***(SKT ‘21) Doctor’s Visit/Check Up (Sick Shane)

Under the Weather Pt. 1 (Sick Shane)

Under the Weather Pt. 2 (Both Sick)

***Without You (Sick Shane)

***Never Gonna Leave This Bed (Both Sick)

***(SKT ‘22) Sick On Vacation (Sick Molly)

(SKT ‘22) ‘I Need You To Pull Over!’ (Sick Shane) [emeto]

We’ll Share A Cup of Kindness Yet (Both Sick)

(SKT ‘23) “I could really use a hug right about now.” (Sick Shane) 

Modern OC one-offs (for now):

Hospitality (Banquets and Events OCs)

Book Club (Business Boutique OCs)

Domestic Drabble #97 (In F [lu] Major)

[ravenkiddo]

Caregiver Meredith Grey moodboard!

[jazy3]

Thoughts on Grey’s Anatomy: 18X01

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

I was really excited for the Premiere and I have never been so disappointed in my life. It took me a few days to write this review because I’m just so unimpressed. I feel like the only interesting parts of the Season 18 Premiere were the Meredith and Hayes FaceTime call, Levi in that outfit and Jo with that hair, and the interviews. That's it. I mean Teddy and Owen’s two weddings were interesting if you’re a Teddy and Owen shipper, but I never have been so that didn’t really do anything for me.

The pacing of the episode was super slow and it was just altogether boring. There were also just so many inconsistencies. For example, Teddy and Owen originally planned to get married at the park with just Megan, Farouk, Evelyn, Leo, and Allison which doesn’t make sense because prior to their break up they were talking about planning their dream wedding. Now they finally get married and Richard didn’t even know about it? They asked Megan to fly in, but they didn’t tell their friends at the hospital after they just all attended Maggie and Winston’s wedding two weeks earlier?

It’s also not clear if Meredith knows that they got married which is weird because she’s the main character of the show and was an integral part of Owen’s previous two weddings one of which was held at her house. Also, Amelia and Link weren’t there and it’s not clear if they even knew about the wedding which is weird because Meredith, Amelia, and Link were all present when Owen proposed to Teddy at Christmas at Meredith’s house and they are all co-parenting Leo together.

While I appreciated the shift to a lighter tone and that they chose to have this season exist in a post-COVID alternative universe where we can see the actors faces again without the PPE and return to escapism the Premiere didn't pack the punch I was expecting. The premieres are usually super shocking and action packed and this one just wasn't. It was just boring and all of the most interesting stuff happened off camera during the two weeks between the Season 17 Finale and the Season 18 Premiere which is just stupid.

I saw the priest getting hit by one of the cyclists coming a few minutes before it happened based on the promo and the context of the scene and there wasn't a big shocking event like there usually is. The pace of the Premiere really felt off to me. My friend Amy who I watch with every week described it as the pacing you usually associate with a nice stroll through a moonlit garden. Fine for episode two or three or a connecting episode but not the Premiere. I feel like they really misjudged what fans were looking for and I’m hoping that they do the work and course correct now that the Premiere has aired and the completely dismal fan reaction as come out.

One of the few bright spots for me was the introduction of Peter Gallagher as Dr. David Hamilton. I love him as an actor! He's great! His recent roles in Grace and Frankie and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist were fantastic! I was super excited when I heard he was coming to Grey's. I like Dr. Hamilton so far and I'm interested to see how his relationship with Ellis and Meredith having dreams about her mother following her battle with COVID will play into the story this season. While it would be interesting to see Meredith work in Minnesota temporarily like Cristina did back in Season 9, I don't want her there permanently. Seattle is as much a character in the show as any of the main characters we've come to love, and something would be missing for me if she moved.

To be perfectly honest, it doesn't make much sense to me for Meredith to move to Minnesota permanently when she only knows a few people there. Who would watch her kids? If she's going to move to me, it makes more sense for her to move to Kansas where Alex is or Switzerland where Cristina is. Her kids have already lost their father and so many other caregivers and Meredith has stuck it out in Seattle for so long after everything that's happened that her moving to Minnesota for me would be bonkers.

Also, where were her kids in the Premiere? All of the interviews that came out prior to the Premiere talked about how Meredith’s focus at the beginning of the season would be on her work and her kids, but they were nowhere to be found in the Premiere and it’s not clear whose watching them while Meredith is in Minnesota. The interviews also made it seem like Meredith and Hayes would still be circling each other at the start of the season with quotes about how timing hadn’t been on their side, that they still needed to have an official drink and go out on a date, and that while Meredith wasn’t looking for a relationship one might find her.

That had literally nothing to do with the Premiere we saw whatsoever! The kids were MIA and it turned out that Meredith and Hayes started dating off screen following Maggie and Winston’s wedding and we didn’t get to see ANY of the firsts they talked about so much over the last two seasons. So stupid. The Premiere was a total rip off. I hate that Nick Marsh is back and I’ve never gone from liking a character and an actor to hating them in such a short period of time ever. My God. I’m so pissed off about this. What the hell were they thinking? Why did they think we would want this at all?

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Nick Marsh as a character and Scott Speedman's portrayal of him when he first showed up in Season 14. I was all ready for him to be Meredith's next great love and I was on board. But then he disappeared and was never heard from again and it was reported that Speedman wanted to take a break from TV for a while so I mourned the loss of what could have been and moved on. I sat through the out of character nonsense that was the DeLuca storyline in the belief that eventually that storyline would end, and Meredith would get a real proper love interest that made sense and would be her post-Derek endgame.

So, I was really excited when they introduced Hayes and I have really come to love his character and his budding relationship with Meredith. I feel like I've been waiting forever to finally see them go on a date and I am super pissed off that we didn't get to see it. I would have loved this storyline with Nick if they had introduced it at any previous point in time, but now after they've spent so much time setting up Meredith and Hayes it's just infuriating. I feel immense rage over how they handled Meredith and Hayes and Meredith and Nick’s storylines in the Premiere. I'm so angry. The whole thing just made no sense. That Premiere should never have aired. It never should have gotten past the draft stage. It was that bad. The first date and all of the firsts that come with a new relationship are the most exciting parts of a romantic storyline for me and I love seeing all of that on screen. They hyped Meredith and Hayes’ relationship up so much and even had the two of them talk about 'firsts' and dating after death so for their first date to happen off screen along with Austin's panic attacks and bad reaction to his Dad starting to date again is just such a rip off.

I have stuck with this show through thick and thin and for them to reward that loyalty by having the most interesting parts of that storyline happen off screen while showing a bunch of stuff on screen with other characters that they could have just told us about? So ridiculous. I was so excited for this season and now I'm just angry. I'm hoping that they are building to a big mid-season finale where Meredith is going to return to Seattle and by that time Bailey will have helped Hayes out with Austin and the two of them will finally get together on screen but I'm starting to feel like every time I get invested in one of the Meredith's new love interests, they pull the rug out from under me and I'm getting really fed up.

In other news, I'm not too surprised that Megan and Riggs broke up off screen only because Virgin River, which I love, just got picked up for two more seasons and I imagine Martin Henderson is busy filming that and it looks like Megan is going to be around for a while and they had to explain it somehow. I loved Meredith and Riggs together and I hated how they ended that storyline so I'm not sad about them breaking up off screen.

The Premiere also broke my heart over Amelia and Link’s storyline. It’s just so stupid. It’s drama for drama’s sake that’s all it is and it’s tired. When did marriage become so important to Link? In the span of a few months, he went from being totally fine with not getting married and checking in with Amelia every few weeks on how she felt to convincing himself that Amelia wanted him to propose so he did so at her sister's wedding and used her dead brother's children to do it. Amelia's right the whole thing was super messed up and manipulative and she was right to say no.

Link decided marriage was important to him and that fostering Luna would be totally fine without ever talking to Amelia. Yes, Amelia should have shared her thoughts with him too, but he also should have paid attention. Now their otherwise healthy relationship is over because she doesn't want to participate in an archaic ritual that involves signing a contract and exchanging vows? That's just stupid. I hope they find a way to work it out and get back together because I really like them as a couple.

I like Dr. Michelle Lin the new Head of Plastic of Surgery that Bailey and Richard are looking to hire. I thought for sure after that photo of the other guy made the rounds on social media that he was going to be the new Head of Plastics, but then he said that he doesn't do "free" and I knew he was out. I'm excited for there to be another female surgeon of colour on the show as the gender and racial balance on the show has been more white and male as of late and I think Grey's is at its best when you have a roughly equal number of women and men and as many different races being represented as possible.

I think it makes the storylines more interesting and authentic and personally gives me more characters that I can identify with. This new doctor seems driven, determined, and could have a potentially interesting dynamic with Richard and Bailey. She’s also giving me some Cristina Yang vibes and I’m all for that. I love Cristina. Always have. Always will. That being said, I'm a bit confused as to where they are going with Jo's storyline as I thought for sure the new Head of Plastics would be a guy and her new love interest. But Bailey did say they still needed to hire a new general surgeon and a new neurosurgeon so maybe one of them will be for her?

I can't really say that there was anything I loved about the Premiere which is disappointing. Jo's parenting hair dye mishap was funny, Levi's outfit cracked me up, and I liked that Bailey agreed to help Hayes out, but that's about it. The thing I was most excited for coming into this season was Meredith finally being back on her feet and seeing the romantic storyline between her and Hayes finally come to fruition.

Finding out that she's going to be in Minnesota for the foreseeable future, she and Hayes started dating off screen but had to call it quits because seeing his Dad date someone new caused Austin to have panic attacks, and finding out that Nick Marsh is back? I hated it. I don't understand how the same person who wrote the Season 16 masterpiece “Snowblind” with that amazing snow scene between Meredith and Hayes wrote the Premiere. I just don't understand. I really hope they're not going to do a love triangle with Meredith, Hayes, and Nick because that would just be so stupid.

She's a forty something award-winning surgeon who's a widowed single mother of three. Love triangles made sense when she was young intern, but at this point it's just dumb. I also didn't feel the chemistry this time around between Meredith and Nick like I did the first time. It felt forced and flat. I like Maggie and Winston together, but I didn't find their storyline in the Premiere particularly engaging. I'm glad that Amelia stayed true to herself, but I hate that Link has decided marriage is the only way forward and that they're still fighting.

The only moment that really made me laugh out of the hour was when Jo opened the door and Levi was in that ridiculous outfit. I loved the FaceTime call between Meredith and Hayes, but I hated the context. Honestly, I'm not really excited about any upcoming storyline this season which makes me really sad. I'm usually super positive and hopeful when it comes to this show, but this episode just stomped all over my dreams. All I can hope for now is that they pull a twist and everything I was hoping for happens in the mid-season finale otherwise I don't think I'm going to like this season very much.

Until next time!

[jobrookekarev]

I’ll Leave A Light On For You To Come Home

Chapter One of One

Words: 4818 

Summary: Season 16 Fix-it AU where Alex comes home to Jo. He slips into their bed late that night and Jo wakes up to him sleeping next to her in the morning. 

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy.

Relationship: Alex Karev/Jo Wilson. 

Characters: Alex Karev and Jo Wilson

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences. 

Additional Tags: Soft and Fluffy, Fix It, Sleep and Softness, Coming Home, Alex was an Iowa and not Kansas! 

Read at AO3

Read at FFN

AN: It's my birthday and I wanted to work on something that would bring me a little joy. So, I literally pulled this draft out of the dumpster and polished it up for you all to enjoy. 

……………………………………………………………………

The moment the lock clicked on the red rusted door, Alex felt at home. The dark, cold air of the Loft greeted him as he slipped open the door. Yet, the string of lights around the window illuminated the space and served as their night light. It was just enough for them to see the way to the bathroom or the door if they got up in the middle of the night. Right now, it was just enough light for him to see the entryway. 

As he gently closed the door behind him, it squeaked more than usual and he made a mental note to put oil on it tomorrow. Alex paused, listening for any sign that the squeak woke up Jo, but it was quiet. Maybe she wasn't home, but he hoped that she was. He kicked off his shoes and dropped his bags against their shelves. Then he took off his coat and tossed it onto the hook, but it fell to the floor, and he didn't have the energy nor the will to pick it up again. 

He could deal with it all tomorrow. Right now, he needed sleep and his wife. Meredith said she was at home, but Jo must still be at the hospital as there were no signs of her presents. Her shoes weren't in the entryway and her bag wasn't by the door. He let out a sigh as he walked around to their bed. He was hoping to come in and have her be the first person he saw, but he would settle for seeing her as soon as she got home.

Iowa was hard. His mom had a slip and was wandering around in the cold winter storm when he got there. He had to search all over town for her and when he did find her, she was half-frozen and disoriented. Alex immediately took her to the hospital, where they realized she had developed pneumonia. Then he spent two weeks in the hospital at her bedside before she recovered enough psychically and mentally to go home. His mom was doing well now that she was back on her meds and back at home. As she recovered, her mental state returned and she was eager to get back to her schedule and back to work. Yet it became apparent that Helen was struggling with the household and day to day tasks. 

It was then that he and Amber decided to find a long-term at home caregiver for her. Helen wasn’t a fan of it, but Alex argued that having someone to check in on her and help with the cleaning and make meals for her wasn't the worst thing in the world. His mom had finally relented and Alex spent the next two weeks finding the right person. Finally, he hired an at home nurse. Mina, an Iranian woman in her 50s, was more of a companion than a caregiver, and she and Helen got along like a house on fire. He trained Mina to look for Helen’s signs of slipping and taught her, her schedule, her likes and dislikes, and everything about her until it became obvious that he was just staying because he was worried. It was true, Alex was reluctant to leave. As much as he missed his wife, he didn’t want to leave his mom until he was certain she wouldn’t have another slip.

He worried for his mother despite how he trusted Mina. Ever since he had reconnected with his mom, Alex had been more involved in her life and she in theirs. They talked at least once a week, although she, Jo, and Amber had weekly video calls. He felt guilty that he hadn't noticed the split until she was deep into her delusions. If he had paid more attention to her, maybe he would have noticed before she started wandering out of the house and caught pneumonia. So he wanted to be there now to make up for it. 

Finally, Helen and Amber sat him down, gave him a one way plane ticket home, and threatened to call Jo if he did leave. Amber had come down with Matt and their son to visit for a week and promised she would call him if anything happened. Yet, Alex convinced them to let him stay so he could see his nephew for a few days. The morning he was set to fly out, Amber promptly woke him up and in her words, she was going to ship him back to Seattle whether he liked it or not. She packed up his stuff, dropped him off at the airport, and told him to go home. 

Alex was both relieved and terrified to go back. It had been a month and a half since he left. So much time had passed and he felt guilty for ignoring everyone. He had let his life in Seattle slip away as he was so focused on things in Iowa. He had ignored and didn't return Jo’s calls. Every time her picture and her ringtone rang, he smiled, yet the thought of actually speaking to her felt too much. He didn't want to worry her about everything that was going on and give her this burden. The more time he ignored Jo, the harder it was to pick up her calls. Yet, Alex still listened to every voicemail and read every text Jo and Meredith sent as they told him little details of their life. The last one he had gotten from Jo, of her begging to know what was going on, was what prompted him to finally go home. The thought of going home to Jo filled him with such relief as he boarded the plane and he came home. 

Alex turned the corner around the bookshelf to their bed, intending to get some sleep. He looked at the bed only to find her side empty. Alex sighed as he tore off his sweater, but as his eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw her. Jo was fast asleep and curled up on his side of the bed. She clutched his pillow as she slept on it. Her hair splayed across his pillow and she was curled up like a little kid. She had her own pillow against her back and was completely surrounded and tucked in with all of the blankets around her like a little cocoon. Alex couldn't help the easy smile that spread across his face as he stared at her. Jo looked like an angel asleep on his pillow, despite how she snored. He missed sleeping next to her more than anything.

He remembered the last voicemail she sent him begging him to come home. She was begging him for answers about what was going on and it broke his heart to hear her cry on the phone, but he was home now and he would tell her everything when she woke up. He didn't want to wake her up and instead decided to crawl in next to her. He untangled a bit of the blanket cocoon, although crawling in bed next to Jo was something he was a bit of an expert at. It was something he had done a thousand times before. 

Alex changed into a fresh pair of pajama pants from his shelf and went over to her side of the bed. He crawled in before he gently pulled back the covers and was careful as he moved the pillow from her back. As usual, Jo didn't wake up as he pulled back the covers and slid in next to her. He moved his legs next to hers first, letting his legs follow the curve of her knees and letting her cold toes rest against his thighs. He always complained about her cold toes and her reluctance to wear socks in bed. Alex never thought that he would miss her cold toes, but he did. Then, he gently laid down until he was able to scoot forward and lay right up against her. Finally, he moved her hair back, twisting it just a little bit before putting it over her shoulder as he rested his head on his pillow next to her. He was finally pressed up against her and completely surrounded by her. Alex needed to hold her and wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. He took in a deep breath, breathing her in as he closed his eyes. 

He was home. 

There was a touch of perfume that lingered on her neck, but the smell of her shampoo and conditioner was strong and he buried his nose in her hair. He knew he would miss her, which is why he had stolen one of her extra scrub hats. She had two identical ones and he had stolen it straight from the hamper. It was small enough that he could carry around a little bit of her. He also stole one of her sweatshirts as she usually got the bigger sizes that hung off of her frame, although it barely fit him. 

When the smell of her faded, he ordered some of her perfume and was able to keep the memory of her alive. Perhaps it was a bit embarrassing, but he couldn't fall asleep unless she was next to him. While in Iowa, he would fall asleep clutching her scrub cap or wearing her sweater. Now he had the real thing right in front of him and it was so much better than a memory, especially as he got to hold her. He was completely enveloped in her. It was almost overwhelming, but he didn't want to be anywhere other than surrounded by Jo. 

He finally closed his eyes and moved his arm around her waist up against her chest to press his hand against her heart. He felt the study beat under his hand as he pulled her closer, giving her a light hug before he relaxed. Jo took a deep breath in as her snoring paused for a moment. He thought she had woken up, but she didn't. Instead, she settled back against him with a little sigh and he knew that she was smiling in her sleep. 

“I missed you so much,” Alex whispered as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. He would wait to kiss her lips until she was awake enough to kiss him back.

Her skin was soft under his lips and he hoped that the beard he had grown in Iowa didn't scratch her cheek too much. She always complained when his rough facial hair scraped her skin. As he pulled back, he noticed that her cheeks were a little fuller than before. There were other changes, too now that he looked at her fully. Her hair was longer and shinier. Her breasts certainly looked bigger, but maybe that was just because it had been so long since he had seen her. It could just be because she was stressing eating while he was gone, but either way, he didn't care. He was just happy to hold her again as he drifted off. 

With his wife in his arms, Alex was home.

---------------------------------------

Jo woke up later than usual to the morning sun streaming into the Loft. These days she was a little bit lazier and for just a second she didn't recognize the warmth that was around her. It had been so cold in the last few weeks since Alex left. The heater wasn't working properly and her human heater was gone, leaving the bed cold and empty. She had substituted the empty space and the cold with extra blankets and extra pillows, but nothing could compare to having her husband next to her. 

However, this morning as she woke up, she was warm and comfortable. She felt like she had slept better than she had in weeks. She was cozy enough to snuggle back further into the blankets and tried to catch a few extra minutes of sleep before she had to get up to go to work. Suddenly, she realized the reason she was so warm and comfortable was because Alex was sleeping next to her. He was curled up behind her and pressed against her back with his hand on her heart, holding her close.

Alex was back.

Jo instantly turned around to see him sleeping beside her. She blinked once and then twice before she finally smiled. He was home. He was really home and sleeping beside her. He must have gotten in late last night and just snuggled up behind her and fell asleep. 

As she looked down at him, she noticed how different he looked. His hair was longer, reaching just past his ears, meaning he hadn’t cut it since before he left. His beard was longer and his hair was coarse as she ran her fingers over his face. She tucked a little strand of hair behind his ear. It had started to turn gray rather than brown, a sign of his age and the stress of the past month and a half. His cheeks were also a little thinner and the dark circles under his eyes seemed deeper, but he looked so at peace sleeping next to her. He even had a soft little smile on his face even as he snored. 

Alex was home. 

Jo bit her lip and smiled as she cupped his cheek with her hand. She didn't know how late he had gotten in last night and a part of her wanted to let him sleep. But she figured he could go back to sleep after she woke him up and she knew he would want to see her too. 

She reached down to press a gentle kiss to his lips. It was just a light pack before she moved to kiss his nose, his cheek, and his forehead as she peppered him with little kisses. Just like a fairy tale, he stirred under her lips and she pulled back. She watched as his eyelids fluttered open and he instantly smiled when their eyes met. She had missed his brown eyes. Alex leaned in and kissed her again with an excitement that she shared as he pulled her up against him and she wrapped her arms around his neck. 

“Hi,” Jo said when she finally pulled back and smiled so wide that her cheeks hurt. 

“Hi,” Alex said, his smile matching hers. 

“You're back,” Jo said, rubbing her thumb along his cheek. “I missed you so much.”

“I know, I’m sorry, but I'm back now. I'm home,” Alex said as he leaned in to kiss her again. He couldn't seem to get enough of her lips, but Jo pulled back. 

“Why did you stop taking my calls, Alexander?” Jo asked as she pressed her hand against his chest. “Do you know how worried I was about you? I called Amber, and she said you weren't returning her calls either. So I called your mom and she said that everything was fine. She said she would ask you to call me, but then you didn’t. I was beginning to think that you, that you had died or that you were... I don't know, cheating on me with your ex-wife or something.”

“You thought I was with Izzie?” Alex asked as he looked at her and just laughed as if it was all just one big joke. 

She glared at him and slapped his chest before Alex caught her hand and kissed her palm as he held her hand against his cheek. 

“I'm sorry and I promise you, I was with my mom the entire time. For what it's worth, I read all of your texts and I listened to all of your voicemail. I'm sorry Jo, I didn't mean to worry you, but everything with my mom was just so stressful. She had a slip, so she was wandering around outside in the cold and got pneumonia.”

“Oh my god, is she okay?” Jo asked, putting a hand over her mouth as tears collected in her eyes, suddenly feeling guilty for pulling Alex away from Helen.

“Yes, she's fine now. She’s fully recovered from the pneumonia and I got her set up with a caregiver, Mina. Although she's more of a friend,” Alex said with a smile as he remembered how his mom and Mina got on. “I just didn't want to leave her again too soon, and everything was so stressful. I ignored your calls because I didn't want to stress you out too, but I was wrong to do that. I'm sorry.”

“I know you were stressed out, but so was I, Alex. And If you think I don't want to hear about what’s going on with your family or if it's too much for me, it's not. I love your mom and if something happens to her, I want to know about it so I can be there for you and for her.” 

As Jo spoke, she laid back down on the pillow and stared at him. She stared deep into his eyes. In his eyes, she could see his thoughts, even as he glanced down. She could tell that he felt immense guilt for ignoring her and that he was still coming down from the stress of everything in Iowa. She reached out to rub her fingers across his cheek, hoping to take away some of the stress that had weighed upon his shoulders.

“I know, I just didn't want to worry you or Amber and I'm just so used to dealing with everything with my mom alone.”

“But, you're not alone, Alex. So long as you have me, you're never alone. When we got married, we made vows. For better or for worse, and this is part of the worst and I want to go through it with you.” 

“I know, I'm sorry I broke our vows. I swear I'm never going to leave you and I'm going to make it up to you,” Alex said, staring into her eyes, and she knew that his promise was true. 

“You better,” Jo said with a smirk as he smiled. She knew Alex never intentionally broke his promises to her. Ignore her, yes, but she knew he would never leave her.

Jo smiled as he pulled her in to kiss him again. This time, his kiss was full of passion and heat as his hands trailed under the hem of her shirt. His fingers ghosted over her stomach before trailing up her chest. She thought for sure he would have noticed the extra weight she carried now, but he seemed too focused on getting into her pants. Alex tried to pull her shirt over her head, but Jo pulled away from the kiss and stopped him. 

“Wait, Alex. I have something to tell you,” Jo said, laughing as he sighed and sat back. 

She couldn't wait to tell him so she could finally see the look on his face. Watching him now, Jo knew that she had made the right choice by choosing to hold off and keep this little secret to herself until he got home. 

“Okay, what is it?” Alex asked, his eyes looking up to her face.

“Well, do you notice anything different about me?” Jo asked, letting a smile spread across her face. 

Alex’s eyes looked her up and down, but his lips parted and she could tell he was drawing a blank. “Um, no?”

Jo almost laughed at his words. No matter how she spelled it out for him, he would never get it as he was just too clueless sometimes. Still, she didn't mind just telling him instead. Jo took his hand and put it on the little bump she had. There was a slight curve of her stomach, evidence of the baby they had created together. 

“I'm pregnant,” Jo said, a large excited smile spread across her cheeks.

“You're pregnant?” Alex asked, still not quite believing her, yet his face immediately lit up with a smile as he sat up in bed. 

They had started trying for a baby around Christmas. Jo finally felt stable enough to do so and she felt ready to be a mom. Alex was over the moon as he had wanted a baby with her for several years but waited for her to be ready too. They both decided not to put too much pressure on themselves and just have fun. Although Jo secretly tracked her ovulation cycle and initiated intimacy on the day she was ovulating. The first month she got her period was disappointing. She also took a pregnancy test just before Alex left for Iowa, but it was negative. He promised her that they would continue to try when he got back. Yet, Jo had started to feel sick a few days later, so she took another pregnancy test. To her surprise, this one was positive.

“Yes,” Jo said, smiling up at him. “I'm about nine weeks along.”

“You're nine weeks pregnant!” Alex said, finally getting it as he looked down at their hands and laughed. “We're having a baby!”

��We're having a baby!” Jo said with a laugh as his excitement was infectious.

“Oh my God, I'm going to be a dad,” Alex said, letting his excitement overtake him as he leaped up from the bed and she sat up to watch him as he excitedly raced around the room. “Oh my God, I'm going to be a Dad. I’ve got to call Meredith and tell her, and I’ve got to call my mom and tell her too. We're going to have a baby.”

Alex searched around for his phone and Jo couldn't help but laugh as she watched him run around. He was so happy, so over the moon, and excited for their child. She loved sharing this joyous moment with him.

Jo had always been so hesitant about kids. Little kids had big hearts that could get broken so easily. She knew that Alex would be a good dad and that she would be at least an okay mom. Yet, ever since she got pregnant, she realized that this was something that she could do. She could be a good mom and she knew that together they could raise a good kid. They could give their child enough strength to take on whatever life threw at them. They would finally have the family they had always wanted and she was so happy.

“Alex, Alex,” Jo called to him with a laugh as she pulled on her shirt again while he reached for his phone. “Meredith already knows and so does your mom and Amber too. Meredith was the one who helped me get my blood drawn to confirm it and I told Helen and Amber a few days ago. I'm sorry I wanted to tell you first but, but you weren't here and I needed you home. I’ve been sick around the clock and I’m exhausted. I’ve been eating only takeout or food from the cafeteria, but I can barely keep it down. I’ve been sending out the laundry and I even hired a maid because the smell of the soap makes me vomit. Everything has just felt like too much on my own and I need you.”

She looked down as she played with her wedding rings on her fingers. Then, she heard Alex's footsteps come back over to her as he sat back on the bed next to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in to lean his forehead against hers. 

“I'm home now and I’m gonna take care of you. I promise you, Jo, for the rest of your pregnancy, I'm not going anywhere,” Alex said to her and she knew that he would keep his promise. In fact, she knew she'd have a hard time getting him to leave her side from then on. 

“I know, I'm glad you're home,” Jo said, leaning in to kiss him. He was so tender and sweet with her, but instead of letting her pull him back into bed, he pulled away and broke their kiss. 

“Seriously, you told Meredith, my mom, and Amber that you were pregnant before you told me?” Alex said, teasing her, although she could tell he was a little disappointed.

“You weren't answering your phone,” Jo yelled, giving his arm a light slap. “I tried to fly out to see you, but I got too sick at the airport, and Meredith wouldn't let me go. So I told Helen and Amber when I asked them to send you home because again, you weren't answering your phone, jerk.”

“Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” Alex asked, holding his hands up as he shook his head and smiled. “I'm never going to ignore your calls again.”

“You better not,” Jo said as she gave his shoulder a light shove before she pulled him into her. “Because next time it's going to be me calling you to tell you I'm in labor and if you miss the birth of our kid, I will never forgive you.” 

“Oh, I’m definitely not missing that,” Alex said with a smile before his eyes went wide as he looked around the loft.

It seemed the reality of their impending parenthood finally dawned upon him and he got up as he looked around the Loft. “We're going to have a baby in 31 weeks! We're going to need a crib, and a car seat, and toys, and swaddles, and blankets, and clothing, and, and, we're going to need to baby-proof the Loft and get diapers, a lot of diapers.”

“Alex, relax, we've got like eight months to plan for them and get everything ready. I already got a ton of baby stuff from Meredith. She practically gave me everything from when the kids were little and since Amelia is pregnant too, Link and I have been looking at cribs and car seats together. Besides, the hospital always gives new parents a ton of free stuff and what we don't have, we can always steal from the storage room.”

“It's not just that, Jo. We're going to have a baby soon and this place is a mess,” Alex said, gesturing around to the Loft that she had to admit, it had gotten a little messy. It had been a week since the maid service had come and Jo had been too sick to do the dishes the night before. “It's freezing in here, and that means the heater is probably broken. We have exposed outlets and wires and there's no way we can block off the kitchen. We got to put corner covers on everything and put away the alcohol and….” 

Alex continued to ramble off the list of things he had to do to get ready for the baby. Jo just sat there and watched him as he ran around the loft in a bit of a panic. This was the man she loved, the father of her child, who was going to do everything he could to make sure that their home was safe for them and that they would have everything they needed. She knew that Alex would give them the best home and the best childhood.

“Alex, Alex!” Jo called out to him, but it took him a few times of calling his name before he finally paused and looked over at her. “Take a deep breath and come back to me for a second.”

Alex nodded as he came over to her. She laid down again and pulled him into her embrace. As they laid down together, he wrapped his arms around her waist and closed his eyes. He laid his head on her chest and put a hand on her belly to hold their baby as well. 

“Everything is going to be okay,” Jo said as she laid a kiss on his forehead. “We have plenty of time to get everything ready and we don’t have to do it right now. I know it's been a long night for you. You just got home and I gave you some big news, so let's just take a moment and relax and just enjoy the fact that we're having a baby and that you’re finally home.”

“Okay,” Alex mumbled, still buried in her chest with his eyes still closed and Jo wrapped her arms around him, running her fingers through his hair. Soon enough, he was asleep in her arms. 

Jo smiled at her sleeping husband, reveling in the fact that he was home before she dozed off as well. They slept together in each other's arms with their baby in between them, together again and for always.

[robotslenderman]

Vampire OCs: Natures and Demeanors

Sullivan Blackmoore:

Nature: Caretaker Demeanor: Stoic

Cieszmir:

Nature: Barbarian Demeanor: Wanderer

Jonathan Grey:

Nature: Loner Demeanor: Heretic

Madeline Jones:

Nature: Maniac Demeanor: Omega

Meredith Jones:

Nature: Fatalist Demeanor: Rogue

Elisa Mulgrew:

Nature: Caregiver Demeanor: Survivor

Wendy Taylor:

Nature: Director Demeanor: Scientist/Thrill-Seeker (Really couldn't pick one here)

Anastasia Normanova Vykosovichna:

Nature: Celebrant Demeanor: Outsider

[iamtrebleclefstories]

The Little Bit of Hope I Cling To - Part 3

Izzie goes to Grey Sloan looking for Bailey, Meredith, or Alex. She meets Dr. Karev instead

*takes place early s15*

Part 3:

——————

The next few months went by quickly. Izzie’s surgeries had gone well and she was undergoing IL-2 treatments again in hopes of killing the cancer. While she was working hard to fight her cancer, she hired a caregiver to make sure her mom was okay. About a month after her last surgery, Izzie was discharged from the hospital. With Maggie living with Jackson and Amelia living with Owen, Izzie, Geo, and Piper all moved into Meredith’s house. For about two weeks they’d been living there and Izzie was bored out of her mind.

“I need to get out of this house,” Izzie banged her head against the kitchen island. “I need to go to work. I can’t sit here all day doing nothing. I’m a freaking neurosurgeon.”

“Trust me, I get it,” Meredith chuckled. “Why don’t you just ask Alex for a job? I’m sure he’d be willing to move some things around for you to work at least a few hours throughout the week.”

“You’re kidding right?” Izzie picked her head up from the counter and raised her eyebrows. “He’s not going to give me privileges. Have you seen the way he’s been hovering these past three months? He didn’t want to discharge me. The only reason I’m here right now is because Jo said it was ridiculous to keep me in the hospital and that she was my surgeon, so she was the one who got to clear me to go home.”

“Maybe you should talk to Jo then? Get her to soften him up. Tell her to tell him that she’s prescribing work because mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to fighting cancer,” Meredith suggested as she readied the kids lunches for school. “Does Geo like carrots?”

“Not really, but put them in his lunch box. He needs the vegetables,” Izzie played with the hem of her sweater. “You know, I think I will talk to Jo. I need this. I need to work. I don’t care where. I’ll even work in the clinic if I have to. I’ll see if she can talk to him for me. She’s the only one he has a hard time saying no to... When the hell did he get so whipped?”

“Oh, just somewhere around six years ago,” Meredith laughed. “He’s been whipped since before they even got together.”

Izzie popped a couple blueberries into her mouth, “Tell me how they met. Every time I ask either of them, they try to change the subject. I don’t know if it’s because I’m the ex-wife or because they don’t like talking about it and being all mushy, but I really want to hear about it.”

“Well, Jo was an intern and Alex was doing his first year of fellowship. They met because Jo was on his service one day. He was a jerk the majority of the day. So, Jo told him that he didn’t have to worry about being nice to her because she had no plans on sleeping with him, since he’d already slept with all of her friends. Things obviously worked out very differently,” Meredith smirked.

“Of course he slept all her friends first,” Izzie chuckled softly. “But how did they get together? I’m still not understanding. Did they end up falling into bed together or something? Alex and I had sex in a supply closet while you had your hand in that guy’s body holding a bomb.”

“Wait, that’s happened?” Meredith raised her eyebrows and laughed when Izzie nodded embarrassed. “I can’t believe you guys... But anyway, no that’s not what happened. A few months later, they became best friends after going to Bailey’s wedding. They would hang out all the time and drink beer like old buddies. I kept asking Alex why he didn’t just ask her out already and he insisted that there was nothing going on between the two of them. Fast forward six months and a whole lot of complicated things, and Alex finally told her that he was in love with her. Then they kissed.”

“Hold on, he said I love you before sleeping with her first?” Izzie asked in surprise.

“Yup,” Meredith grinned as she nodded. “You know, they were a thing for entire week before having sex? He kept chickening out because he said he wanted it to be special. Jo on the other hand was desperate to jump his bones, haha.”

“He really did change,” Izzie shook her head in disbelief. “Jo is good for him. It’s like they were made for each other.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Meredith said as she finally sat down to drink her coffee. “I was a little worried at first when you came back. Not because I doubt Alex or anything like that. I know Alex would never leave Jo. He’s willing to die, kill, and go to jail for, in love with her. But I was worried that you would try to cause problems. And I was worried for Jo. She’d been through a lot in her life. Maybe even more than me, but she’s always smiled and been happy. I was worried that being your surgeon would cause her to lose some of that. She never did though, and she still hasn’t.”

“Honestly, I kind of fell in love with her. So I completely understand,” Izzie chuckled. She really meant it too. Jo had been wonderful in the past few months. She didn’t know how to even begin thanking the woman for all that she’d done for her.

“I’m going to the hospital. Are you coming with me?” Meredith asked.

“Yeah,” Izzie nodded. “I’m going to go upstairs and and get the kids.”

***

“Jo, come on babe. We’ve got to go or we’re gonna be late,” Alex yelled from the opposite side of the loft.

Jo sat in the bathroom staring in disbelief at the pregnancy test she held in her hands. After months of trying and receiving negative test results, Jo finally saw the answer she’d been hoping for. She hadn’t planned on taking a test this morning. She usually did one every few weeks. Today she’d seen the box under the bathroom cabinet and decided to take it.

Truthfully, as much as she longed for it, she hadn’t expected those results. She hadn’t expected the little flutter in her chest and the prickling of tears in her eyes when she saw the two little lines she’d prayed for. It was positive. She was pregnant.

“Jo, we really need to leave. Let’s go,” Alex knocked on the bathroom door, startling her out of the moment.

Taking a calming breath, she called out, “Coming! Just need to wash my hands. Wait for me in the car.”

Alex grumbled something she couldn’t quite make out. Jo waited until she heard the loft door close before walking out, the positive pregnancy test clutched tightly in her hand. She crossed over to the other side of the loft and placed the test in her nightstand, hiding it underneath a couple articles she’d been reading. Grabbing her purse, she steadied herself and schooled her expression so as not to alert Alex of her newfound knowledge.

She jumped into the passenger seat and pretended like it was any other day. As much as Jo wanted to just blurt it out, she wanted to take a blood test in the hospital first before telling Alex. She wanted to be sure, and she wanted it to be special.

They arrived just as Meredith and Izzie were walking towards the hospital entrance. Alex and Jo hopped out of the car and greeted the two women warmly.

“What are you doing here?” Alex turned to Izzie. “You should be home resting.”

“I came to talk to you about letting me work,” Izzie gave Jo a pleading look. “Jo said that my mental health is very important to my reconvert and she suggested that I do things I love and get back to as normal of a routine as possible.”

Understanding what Izzie was trying to tell her, Jo nodded, “Yes. That’s right. She should be getting back to her normal routine, which includes work. Not as many hours as she was working before, but she definitely needs to do what she loves. She needs to work. Doctors orders.”

The three women looked over at Alex expectantly. His eyes flitted back and forth between them and he eyed Jo skeptically, “I feel like you guys are ganging up on me.”

“Come on, Alex. Let her work. She’s okay and she needs this,” Jo looked at Alex with wide eyes that she knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.

“Fine, you can work in the clinic,” Alex sighed as she addressed Izzie. “But no heavy lifting or exerting yourself. And I’ll grant you privileges to work on simple neuro cases that come into the ER, like clipping aneurysms.”

“Ah! Thank you!” Izzie jumped in excitement and gave Alex a brief hug. “Best chief ever!” She turned to Jo and smiled, “And you are amazing! I get to put on some scrubs for the first time in months.”

Alex rolled his eyes, “I’m going inside. See you guys later.”

The ladies walked over to the coffee cart and got in line to place their orders. Once up at the front, Jo asked for her coffee, “Hi. Can I get a a regular coffee, two creams, two sugars? Actually make it decaf.”

“Decaf?” Meredith looked at Jo quizzically. “Why are you getting decaf? You live off of expresso shots.”

“That’s true, every time I saw you with a cup in your hand, it was always something with expresso in it,” Izzie tilted her head in confusion. “You thrive off of caffeine.”

“I just... didn’t want it today,” Jo shrugged, hoping that would be a good enough explanation to distract from the fact that she’d only ordered decaf because she may be pregnant.

“Since when do you not want caffeine?” Meredith questioned.

Izzie gasped, “Oh my God! Are you pregnant?”

Jo froze in surprise. She’d always figured that if she were to get pregnant, Meredith would be one of the first to know. Ever since she and Meredith got closer, the order of people finding out would be Meredith, Alex, Link, Ben, and Bailey. She never once expected that her husband’s ex-wife would be on that list, let alone figure it out before anyone else. So, that’s why she just stood there in shock, I unanswering.

“Oh God, you are pregnant!” Meredith exclaimed.

“Shhhh! Keep it down. I don’t need everyone to know that the chief’s wife is pregnant before I even tell him,” Jo looked around frantically, hoping that no one else heard what happened.

“Wait, he doesn’t know?” Izzie asked.

“No. I found out this morning as he was rushing me to get out of the house,” Jo scanned the area and spoke in a hushed voice. “The car on our way to work didn’t seem like the appropriate time to share this life changing news. I want it to be special. Plus, I really want to take a blood test first to be sure.”

“Well then what are we waiting for? Let’s go do the test right now,” Meredith urged.

“We can go to the clinic and do it in one of the private exam rooms. It doesn’t open for another hour, but I can take the test for you and no one will ever know,” Izzie grabbed Jo by the hand and started walking away from the coffee cart, motioning for Meredith to follow. “Come on, let’s go!”

***

“You know what I just realized?” Izzie wondered out loud.

“What?” Meredith and Jo said at the same time.

“Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time I’ve run a pregnancy test for someone Alex may have knocked up,” Izzie chuckled as she thought back to events of over a decade ago.

“Alex knocked someone else up? Alex has a kid?” Jo’s eyes widened and her voice raised in pitch.

“What? No! No, no, no... when we were second year residents his ex-girlfriend Rebecca thought she was pregnant and I ran a pregnancy on her that came out negative. She was having a hysterical pregnancy,” Izzie explained as she removed the needle from Jo’s arm and disposed of it.

“Ooh, I forgot about that,” Meredith gasped. “That girl was insane. Actually crazy.”

“Wait, is this the same girlfriend that peed on your couch?” Jo turned to Meredith.

“Yup,” Meredith nodded. “Ava—or Rebecca was her real name. She was a patient that Alex saved and she fell in love with him... and then she went crazy.”

“I’m not crazy,” Jo looked back and forth between both women. “I know I have had my moments, but it was really was positive.”

“Jo, we know you’re not crazy,” Izzie laughed. “Trust me, we know crazy—I was crazy for a minute there. I had a brain tumor that caused me to hallucinate my dead fiancé.”

“I’m going to take these to the lab and put a rush on them. Go about your day like normal and we’ll meet for lunch to give you the results,” Meredith squeezed Jo’s shoulder as she walked out.

Jo watched as Izzie cleaned up the supplies they’d used for the blood draw, “I’m sorry. This must be really weird for you. You just ran a pregnancy test for your ex-husband’s new wife. It’s not exactly something I’d be thrilled to do. But then again, my ex-husband was a horrible human being, so let’s be glad he never procreated.”

“You were married before?” Izzie paused and looked up at Jo.

“Uh—yeah... it’s a very long story, but I was in an abusive marriage with a man who almost killed me on multiple occasions. I ran away, changed my name, and never divorced him. But then a little over a year ago, he died after being hit by a drunk driver, and I was free.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine what that must’ve been like for you,” Izzie frowned sadly. She felt like there was still so much she had left to learn about the woman Alex married. The resilience after so much hardship and the ability to smile after enduring so much pain were encouraging. “If you are pregnant, this baby is going to be very strong.”

“Thanks,” Jo smiled as she stood up. She looked over at Izzie and opened the door. “Come on, let’s go get your scrubs.”

***

Hours later, the three women met outside the ER to read the results. Jo was fidgeting nervously. Everything within her was on edge. She knew she was pregnant. She had to be pregnant. The stick she peed on this morning had two lines and she was almost positive her labs would reflect the presence of child in her uterus. Sure, she didn’t really have any symptoms yet, but the entire morning she thought back and realized that her last period was over six weeks ago. She’d been so busy with Izzie’s case and her fellowship, that she’d failed to notice.

Meredith held the paper in her hands, “Do you want to read it or do you want me to do it?”

“You do it,” Jo bit her bit anxiously. She watched as Meredith slowly unfolded the paper, Izzie leaning over her shoulder to see the results. “I think I’ll chicken out if I do it. Which sounds stupid because we want this. We’ve been trying for months, now. But for some reason, I just feel like I want to puke.”

“Well, that might just be the morning sickness talking because you’re definitely pregnant,” Izzie shared, a wide grin dawning her face. “Congratulations!”

“Yup,” Meredith nodded, an equally large smile gracing her features. “Your hCG levels indicate that you are pregnant. Probably six to seven weeks along.”

Jo took a deep breath, “Oh my God... I’m pregnant.”

“You’re pregnant,” Meredith chuckled and gave Jo a hug. “You two are going to be the very best parents to this baby.”

“I need to tell Alex,” Jo finally said, some of the shock beginning to wear off. She got up from the bench she’d been sitting on to go to his office when Izzie stopped her.

“Woah, hold on a minute. You can’t just go barging in and say ‘we’re having a baby.’ You gotta do something cute,” Izzie insisted. “And you’ve got to plant a camera to record his reaction when you tell him because we definitely want to see that.”

“You’re right,” Jo nodded. “That’s why I didn’t tell him this morning. I want it to be special.”

“It’s going to be special no matter what you do,” Meredith placed a hand on Jo’s shoulder. “It’s special because the baby is special, and your love is special. However you decide to tell him will be special.”

Jo took in Meredith’s advice and decided that it was true. But it didn’t make her want to abandon the thought of a sweet gesture any less. Deciding what she wanted to do, Jo made arrangements to set her plan in motion.

By the time she and Alex got off work, there were only a couple things she had left to do before telling him about the baby. Meredith had stopped by the loft early to plant the items she’d need for her pregnancy reveal. As they pulled into their parking space outside the loft, Jo felt her heart begin to beat rapidly.

She turned in her seat to look at Alex, “So, I have a surprise for you inside the house. It was delivered early so you’ve got to keep your eyes closed until I tell you. Promise you won’t open them until I say so.”

Alex sighed. He was tired and really just want to shower and go to sleep, but his wife had taken the time out of her day to surprise him. The least he could do was be grateful, “Okay. I promise.”

Jo led him up into the loft with her hands covering his eyes, much like the first time she’d surprised him with their couch. She stopped him right in front of that very piece of furniture and removed her hands, “Ta dah!”

“It’s our couch... the couch you already surprised me with six years ago,” Alex made a face.

Jo slapped his arm, “Not the couch you dummy. Look at what’s on it.”

“It’s a box of pizza. Not that I don’t love pizza, but why?”

Jo released an exasperated sigh, “You have to open the box first, you dummy.”

Jo watched as Alex leant down and slowly opened the box up, revealing the message inside. Congrats on being promoted to Dad. She watched his face contort with a variety of emotions before meeting hers with a look of wonder.

“You’re pregnant?”

“I’m pregnant,” Jo nodded. “Probably about six weeks or so.”

“We’re having a baby,” Alex stood up from his position of being hunched forwards to wrap Jo in his arms. “Oh my God. We’re having a baby!”

“We’re having a baby!” Jo laughed and released the breath she’d been holding. “We’re going to be parents!”

“Hell yeah, we are.”

[cianmarstoo]

Not too much.

In a world where people are catagorised as Caregiver, Neutral, or Little, Alex Karev has been hiding his classification as a little since high school. Sadly for him Meredith steps in when George hits Alex, checking him over with Dereks help, and soon Alex finds that he can't avoid being little forever.

[anewkindofme]

Fuck it Friday

Thanks for the tag @actualalligator

This is for a fic I’m planning out for the future that takes place in the “My Boy” verse. A flashback to before Jackson and Mark’s arrangement began. Rather, a look at MerDer and Alex. A spin on late S7/early S8 with the Alzheimer trial and MerDer’s separation.

______

They aren’t going to make Alex split time between two houses. That isn’t fair. They promised him that the “big house” would be his forever home. He wouldn’t have to worry about bouncing around or living in crappy apartments or motels. Derek building that house was a promise of not just family but stability.

It’s Meredith or Derek who flip flop. 3 days on, 3 days off. Meredith stays at Cristina’s while Derek’s there. He still has his trailer for Meredith’s time.

Because Meredith lost her job, Derek only sees her when it’s time for the swap. Somehow, she’s still pulled together in her jeans and cozy sweaters. Every time he opens that door, he remembers why he fell in love with that beautiful woman. He watches her fiddle with Alex’s bib and prep his bottle with him nestled on her hip.

The accusation of her being a terrible mother rests bitterly on his tongue. He’d take it back if he could. But that’d mean potentially apologizing for being mad at her for what she did. What she almost cost them, including that sweet boy on her hip.

He’s not about to do that.

“Dada!” Alex cheers when he sees Derek.

Derek forces a smile. “Hey, buddy,” he says, walking into the kitchen.

Alex makes grabby hands. Derek pries him off Meredith’s hip, refusing to meet her eye.

“Meredith.”

“Derek,” she whispers, as if his name is an ugly word.

———

No pressure tag: @cianmarstoo, @snowviolettwhite & @im-overstimulated-and-im-sad

[tvandenneagram]

Grey’s Anatomy: Alex Karev - Type 8w9

Alex is blunt, sensitive and honest. He has built up a persona of being mean and brash to cope with his difficult upbringing and the challenges that he faced.

At his best, Alex shows his more vulnerable and emotional side. He is very empathetic towards some of his patients and truly wants to help them. We see the care that he takes in the speciality of paediatrics as he wants to protect and care for the patients. He is very protective of his friends and family and is always there for Meredith even becoming her confidant after Cristina leaves. He also becomes less impulsive and aggressive as he matures but still fights to protect his loved ones.

At his worst, Alex can become cruel and pushes the people he loves away. He is emotionally detaches and keeps to himself, however, if he is approached he will lash out and show his rage. This can be seen when Izzie leaves him and he is trying to cope with her departure. He also lashes out at Andrew and becomes violent when he believes he is with Jo. Alex will say and do hurtful things when he feels like he is hurt or used by another person and claims that he is staying honest to himself.

Alex is very protective of the people he loves and takes a strong stance against what he perceives as injustices. He thinks it’s his job to stand up against bullies and to defend the weak. As a child, he experienced bullying and now takes a strong stance against it. This can be seen with how he will fight for his patients’ rights and becomes their advocate. He will do this with his younger patients and is especially concerned about the people in their life. He will sometimes jump to conclusions and can be brash with parents when he believes they may be neglectful or abusive to their children. He can still be a bit abrasive and bully others based on his feelings and perceptions towards them.

Alex had a very difficult childhood after his father abandoned him and his mother was unwell. As a result, he took it upon himself to become the ‘man of the house’ and started acting as the caregiver for his mother. He felt like he had a lot of tough circumstances to deal with but it was his job to look after his mother and family. The responsibilities that he took on led to his feelings of resentment towards his father and wanting to escape his past.

Alex finds it difficult sharing his feelings and being vulnerable. However, when he genuinely forms a connection with someone his softer side is more evident. He cares deeply for both Izzie and later Jo and within his relationships with them is more sensitive and tender. He has a tough exterior and tries to mask his insecurities but in these relationships he finally feels able to share his emotions. He is able to shed his fear of being dependent on someone else and shares his life completely.

Alex has a wing 9 as he is more introverted and closed off than a wing 7 may be.

Tri-type: 8w9 - 6w7 - 2w3

Some quotes to describe Alex’s motivations:

“Doesn’t matter how tough we are. Trauma always leaves a scar. It follows us home. It changes our lives. Trauma messes everybody up but maybe that’s the point. All the pain and the fear and the crap, maybe going through all that is what keeps us moving forward. It’s what pushes us. Maybe we have to get a little messed up before we can step up”

“You just don’t give up. It’s lame. You’re not a quitter. That’s not who you are”

“You can have the worst crap in the world happen to you and you can get it over it. All you gotta do is survive”

“Some of us have to overcome more than others.”

“Don’t analyze everything. Just do it.”

“It’s your life, nobody can make you do anything you don’t want to do”

“I can't lose you, I won't survive and that's your fault. You made me love you, you made me let you in."

“Maybe I'm a pig. Maybe I'm an ass. Maybe I'm a vermin like everybody says, but I tell the truth. It's the one thing I got going for me.”

“Who do you think took care of her? Kept track of her? Got her committed so she wouldn’t hurt herself? Who do you think took care of your kids? Your best was worthless. I was the dad. I was the kid, but I was the dad. You were nothing. You were gone. You’re worthless.”

“I know, ok? I'm being an ass. I can't help it. I'm pissed off all the time, so much I can't even breathe."

“When people reach out a hand, you don’t bite it. Trust me, I did it for years, and the only thing it accomplishes is that people stop reaching out.”

[sydneyrynearson]

Structural Analysis

Chapter 10 of Orlik’s Media Criticism in the Digital Age discusses structural analysis and its specific purpose for examining the symbol systems that can manipulate reality into organized patterns for efficient conveyance.

Within the show Grey's Anatomy’s 17 seasons you can find the 12 character archetypes displayed throughout the episodes.  I will be analyzing Grey's Anatomy's pilot episode titled, A Hard Day’s Night, where we first get to meet the interns and surgeons of Seattle Grace Hospital.  This episode follows the interns first as an intern, and it just happens to be their first 48 hour shift.  Dr. Meredith Grey really gets thrown into her first day when she realizes the man she hooked up with the night before is one of the attending surgeons at Seattle Grace Hospital. 

An archetype depicted in the pilot episode of Grey's Anatomy is the mentor.  In the first episode is the resident Miranda Bailey, the mentor.  Her character is there to lead, guide, and teach the intern.  Throughout the episode, and the course of the series, she does so much to form the interns into the surgeons that they will become.  In the first episode we see Doctor Bailey showing the new interns the ropes and assigning them patients that they need to follow for the rest of their shift.  Even though she's given a mean nickname by the interns and others at the hospital it's because she really cares about her interns and wants them to succeed.  The interns respect and look up to her.

Another archetype within Grey's Anatomy is the caregiver.  Seeing that this is a medical drama following the lives of surgeons there are many caregivers within the show.  But the true Caregiver is the intern Doctor Meredith Grey.  Not only is she a caregiver in the sense that she is a surgeon but she also is a caregiver to her mother, Doctor Ellis Grey, who is currently in an assisted living home because she is suffering from advanced early onset Alzheimer's.  She's also always there for her friends, the other interns, when they need her and in their times of crisis. 

[virginiamurrayblog]

11 Tearjerkers to Watch on Netflix While You Wait For the Return of This Is Us

(Photo: Getty)

If you’re like us, you’ve been desperately trying to fill the emotional void that This Is Us left since the season 2 finale (which we’re *still* not over). Who knew weeping every Tuesday could be so therapeutic? If you can’t wait until season 3 premieres on Sept. 25, we’ve compiled our go-to TV shows and movies on Netflix that make us sob like newborn babies every. damn. time. From The Notebook to Grey’s Anatomy and Netflix’s Irreplaceable You, you’ll get to practice your ugly crying throughout the next three weeks.

Irreplaceable You

Synopsis: A stunning cancer diagnosis spurs Abbie to seek a future girlfriend for her current fiancé Sam, who’s clueless when it comes to dating. Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michiel Huisman, Christopher Walken Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: Even though the opening scene reveals that Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) dies, this Netflix original will take you on a freaking emotional rollercoaster. For instance, in the weeks before her death, Abbie and fiancé Sam (Michiel Huisman) spend most of it fighting—until they realize what little time they have left together.

Grey’s Anatomy

Synopsis: Intern (and eventual resident) Meredith Grey finds herself caught up in personal and professional passions with fellow doctors at a Seattle hospital. Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: From Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) leaving Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) at the altar to that fatal plane crash, this show is Shonda Rhimes at her finest, and we love every damn second of it. And, spoiler alert, we’re still not over McDreamy—a.k.a. our boo Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey)—and his tragic death.

(Source: Giphy)

Seven Pounds

Synopsis: Weighed down by a dark secret, IRS agent Ben Thomas tries to improve the lives of seven strangers in need of a second chance. Cast: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: Grab the tissues, y’all. This 2008 drama starring Will Smith is equal parts heartwarming and emotionally shattering. Watching the impact that Thomas (Smith) had on the selected strangers hits you right in the feels—and we’re not going to spoil it, but the ending will leave you in pieces.

The Best of Me

Synopsis: Sparks fly between former high school flames when they return home for a funeral, but painful memories may keep them from having a future together. Cast: Michelle Monaghan, James Marsden, Luke Bracey Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: Let’s be honest, what Nicholas Sparks movie doesn’t leave you feeling like an emotional hot mess? The Notebook aside, this film takes it to the next level with storylines touching on child abuse, cancer, teen pregnancy and one totally unexpected and completely tragic conclusion. That said, watching Dawson (Luke Bracey) and Amanda (Liana Liberato) fall in love had us crying a whole lot of happy tears.

Charlie St. Cloud

Synopsis: Ben Sherwood’s intriguing novel is the basis of this ghost story about Charlie, who is devoted to his brother, Sam, even after Sam’s death. Cast: Zac Efron, Charlie Tahan, Amanda Crew Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: First of all, seeing our childhood crush Zac Efron in tears is painful enough, but watching him grieve the death of his little brother and struggle to live his life without him will make your innocent heart shatter into a million pieces. We’re here for you, b.b.

(Source: Giphy)

Good Will Hunting

Synopsis: When professors discover that an aimless janitor is also a math genius, a therapist helps the young man confront the demons that are holding him back. Cast: Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: The math may be over our heads, but this 1997 Oscar-winning flick will hit you right in the heart. We still well up every time we see the pivotal scene where Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) and Will Hunting (Matt Damon) connect over an unexpected shared experience.

You’re Not You

Synopsis: An accomplished pianist diagnosed with ALS and the aimless young woman who is her caregiver form a bond that enriches each of their lives. Cast: Hilary Swank, Emmy Rossum, Josh Duhamel Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: This film, based on the bestselling novel by Michelle Wildgen, will not only make you weep from the plethora of touching moments (like Emmy Rossum’s character helping Hilary Swank’s character play the piano again), but will also make you sob uncontrollably from watching Swank’s visceral portrayal of a woman struggling with a degenerative physical illness.

The Notebook

Synopsis: Two young lovers are torn apart by war and class differences in the 1940s in this adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’s best-selling novel. Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: Do we even need to explain ourselves here? This classic romance is filled with countless sob-worthy moments, like Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie’s (Rachel McAdams) iconic rain-soaked kiss—which won them an MTV Movie Award in 2005.

(Source: Giphy)

First They Killed My Father

Synopsis: A five-year-old girl embarks on a harrowing quest for survival amid the sudden rise and terrifying reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Cast: Sreymoch Sareum, Kompheak Phoeung, Socheata Sveng Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: Director Angelina Jolie hauntingly captures what it was like during the Cambodian genocide from the eyes of young girl, which is based on the best-selling non-fiction novel by Loung Ung. Watching her family, innocence and childhood be ripped away from her by the regime will truly break your heart—especially when you remember that these atrocities actually happened in real life.

Extremis

Synopsis: Witness the wrenching emotions that accompany end-of-life decisions as doctors, patients and families in a hospital ICU face harrowing choices. Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: This Netflix original documentary is not for the faint of heart. In just 24 minutes, you’ll get deeply invested in the families’ remarkable stories, and you’ll see their struggles of wanting to keep their loved ones alive, despite their terminal illness.

The Impossible

Synopsis: Tracking one family’s harrowing experiences, this gripping drama depicts the chaos generated by the massive 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. Cast: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland Streaming: Yes Why it will make you ugly cry: Two words: Tom Holland. Watching the young actor (he was only 16 at the time!) be torn apart from his family will have you reaching for your tissue box—and wanting to call your mom—even before the opening credits. The fact that this is a true story just makes it *that* much more worth watching.

(Source: Giphy)

Related:

Our Go-to Sad Movies, TV Shows and YouTube Vids for When You Need a Good Cry 13 LOL-Worthy Sitcoms to Binge on Netflix ASAP 15 Romantic Comedies on Netflix That Will Make You Believe in Love Again

The post 11 Tearjerkers to Watch on Netflix While You Wait For the Return of This Is Us appeared first on Flare.

11 Tearjerkers to Watch on Netflix While You Wait For the Return of This Is Us published first on https://wholesalescarvescity.tumblr.com/

[cianmarstoo]

Is Alex a morning person or a night person?

he's kind of both-

he's very much one of those kids who is just like 'Imma stay awake all hours of the day and will be totally fine', then an hour later is all whiny and having to be either carried or cuddled by either Meredith or Derek

🌞 He tends to wake up earlier when he's little or between headspaces, either going to cause mischief somewhere, or going in to Meredith and Derek, full of energy. This works for Derek who is definitely a morning person, and if he's not in early he'll take Alex fishing with him (though post watching Finding Nemo Alex refuses to let Derek actually catch any), or they'll go walking through the woods near Derek's trailer/the dream house. If Meredith's worked nights then Derek will take Alex to a local bougie bakery to pick up pastries for them all, and coffee for him and Mer, and a hot chocolate or a smoothie for Alex to take home to her 🌞

🌛Alex tends to want to stay up later when he's with his cousins, or when he's fighting his little headspace, or if there's been a big Greys level drama and he's wanting to be near his parents... or if he's really into whatever he's doing. They're pretty good at keeping him to a schedule which helps, but sometimes they can't help it at all. He tends to have a bubble bath at night to help chill him a little, especially with lavender bubble bath or something. Both of his bedroom have little cool lamps like lava lamps and a salt lamp (from Lexie... they've told Alex multiple times not to lick it even if he finds it cool that its salty) and they put music and a white/brown noise machine on... still sometimes he sneaks out to play with something he was playing with, or if he's big its to game with Jackson (because the two are always getting in trouble with each other) Meredith is more a natural night owl (Derek had to learn to be one because of their work), so will normally go and hang out with Alex, laying beside him in bed, either talking to him about hospital drama, or reading him her mothers journals.... or perhaps actual storybooks if Alex asks for them. If he's over tired but insisting on staying awake, one of them will take him on a car ride to get him to sleep, because an awake all night Alex is a cranky the next day 🌞

🏥👪✨Ask me some headcanons here✨🏥👪

[cianmarstoo]

Hiiiii!! I totally agree with your Hc that Alex has ADHD! Does he have any hyper fixations that lead to MerDer having to indulge for a week then he is like over it 😭

He does!!!

I think he has some that he's always into but his interest level ebbs and flows- things like sharks, dinosaurs, Lego, star wars, and bugs: Very sterotypical masculine things, though he does start to branch out more to things he was taught to see as 'girly' - he goes through 2 weeks of insisting his nails get painted a different colour every day then after that its like the nail varnishes are none existent he just forgets about them

I think when he's big he takes up random things like moutain bike riding for 3 weeks, building a pc, taking a tamagotchi everywhere, trying to do diy, and he gets really into what he sees as retro gaming things like the playstation and gameboys

whenever he starts a new hyperfixation Mer and Derek encourage him to have fun, but also insist on setting healthy boundaries such as 'no its time to have dinner, the giant bug toy needs to stay in the living room' or making sure he sleeps and isnt just up all night with his latest happy

of course most, if not all, of the surgerons he has a long term hyperfixation on surgery, including random facts about historical surgery because he watched a 5 hour youtube essay