Meredith freezes, not expecting that at all, and then she slips her arms around him and closes her eyes, just holding on. It stings, realizing all over again that she's more prepared for disaster than affection. No matter how many times she thinks she's made herself okay, she just never really gets better. "It's alright," she murmurs, rubbing circles against his back, though she still suspects that's a lie. It'll become alright. They just need a little time. "It's okay."