Catherine Avery

"You sent your girlfriend out of town when your mother is coming?" Ivy walks up to Jackson.

He ignores her and continues walking away. She sighs, he's been doing this for the past few weeks. Ever since she took Sofia during guys night, he doesn't talk to her unless it's about work. Thankfully, her and Jonathan have been able to go on a couple more noninterrupted dates.

She makes her way into the auditorium and takes a seat next to April, "He still not talking to you?"

"No and I don't understand. Maybe it's the stress of his mother being here," Ivy speculates.

They listen as Cristina, Meredith and Alex complain about how boring grand rounds will be. Ivy leans forward, "Oh, no. Its not going to be boring. This is Jacksons mother, Catherine Avery."

"Shes a urologist, right?" Meredith asks.

"Yeah, we met her when we were interns at Mercy West. She's amazing," April fills them in.

"Shes a lunatic," Jackson comments.

Ivy disagrees, "No shes not. Besides she loves me and she's brilliant. She says such shocking things sometimes."

April adds, "But when you think about them later, they change your whole life."

Jackson is still grouchy, "Or ruin your whole life. Shes toxic. Shes a meddler. My mom has no boundaries. Be warned."

Ivy rolls her eyes, "Shes not that bad. I mean, once I sat down and had a conversation-"

"Wait. You sat down and talked with my mom?" Jackson stops her.

"Oh, so now you're talking to me?" Ivy sasses.

"Is that why you shipped Lexie out of state?" Alex asks, already curling up to sleep.

Cristina turns to Jackson, "What? Oh. You shipped Lexie...wow. Who hides his girlfriend under a rock while his mom comes into town?"

Meredith answers, "Someone who's got a hypercritical surgeon for a mom. I get it."

Ivy adds, taking a sip of coffee, "Yeah, I mean, she wanted to know my whole life story and I'm just a friend."

"How personal did her questions get?" Cristina asks her.

"She asked about Derek. She asked about my dad-"

"I am so sorry about that," Jackson apologizes.

Cristina asks Jackson, "Is your mom ambidextrous? I bet you she is. All the best surgeons are."

Jackson turns to April and Ivy, "Wait. How often do you two talk to my mom."

April answers as Ivy has found her coffee cup interesting, "We're Facebook friends."

"Wait... you and my mom? Ivy? You too?"

April continues, "Shes a brilliant surgeon and woman. Shes a trailblazer."

Ivy defends herself, "Besides, I only talk to her when she messages me first. Which is almost weekly."

"Weekly?!" Jackson freaks out.

"Yes, some Averys actually talk to me," she sasses.

"Wake up, everybody. I know, I know, it's grand rounds, where we have to sit and listen to somebody talk about how somebody did something and here's how they did it, and there's not enough coffee in Brazil for this. Well, not today. Today we are going to do. Today I'm going to change a life and maybe make medical history, too. And I can't do it alone, so who wants to step into the future with me?" Catherine ask.

April cheers, loudly, causing everyone to look at her. Catherine then introduces the patient, "Everybody, this is Ryan."

"Hi."

"Ryan, could you show everybody what we're here to do today?" She asks.

He drops his robe and everyone gasps. Catherine starts, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to invite a few lucky residents to scrub in on this country's first... penis transplant. Thanks to a case of penile cancer, Ryan underwent a full penectomy 11 months ago. Good margins left him basically cured and cancer free. So that's gone. And today we'll be replacing the other thing Ryan lost. A suitable donors become available here at Seattle Grace Mercy West, and Ryan generously agreed to fly out and make this day a teaching opportunity. Who wants in on it?"

Every residents hand goes up, except Jacksons. She smiles, "Hello! That's more like it."

Mark then stands up, "Uh, Mark Sloan, plastics. Isn't penile reconstruction the standard approach in cases like these? Why a-a transplant?"

"Well, I can answer your question with a question. Do you like your penis?" Catherine asks.

"Yeah, good luck when you introduce your mom to your mentor," Ivy tells Jackson.

"It does the job," Mark replies.

Catherine continues, "If one day, it wasn't there, wouldn't you want it back? Or would you be satisfied with a reconstructed organ that has very little function?"

Mark starts, "Satisfied? No. But that's not the-"

"Neither would Ryan here. Yes, this is new ground. But here's a young man with his whole life ahead of him, with the will to love it as a whole man, with a bravery and selflessness to help advance medical science along the way. So let's give Ryan a hand," She starts clapping, leading everyone else to as well, "And now let's give Ryan a penis!"

○○○○

Ivy follows Jackson to greet his mother, "Gotta make a big show out of everything."

"Theres my baby boy. And Ivy! How are you dear?" She asks, hugging Ivy then Jackson.

"Oh, you look skinny. You're not sleeping," Catherine checks over Jackson.

"Okay, I'm fine, mom," Jackson sighs.

Catherine then turns her eyes to Ivy, "You look way to skinny. And even more tired than Jackson. Are you sleeping at all?"

Ivy nods, "Yes, Dr. Avery, I've just had to pull some extra hours the past few weeks."

"Ah, yes. The life of a chief resident soon to be double board certified surgeon! I'm so proud of you. Now, are you two dating? Cause I know you've got a girlfriend," Catherine points between the two of them.

"No, no, no. His girlfriend is Lexie. She's out of town currently, visiting her sister," Ivy says before her pager goes off.

Catherine waves her off, "Go on, dear. We'll catch up later when you go out for my surgery."

Ivy nods, "Of course, Dr. Avery. See you later, Jackson."

She walks away, leaving Jackson to deal with his mother by himself.

○○○○

Ivy sits next to April in the skill lab to compete for a chance to scrub in on the transplant, "Who has worked with the tissue of the penis before?"