Never grow up [1/2]

4

Meredith slept awful that night. She missed her kids and the day of Ellis' birth kept replaying in her head.

"Mer, hi" Meredith could heard Derek's voice as she slowly opened her heavy eyes

"Ellis?" Meredith asked, referring to her daughter.

"She's in the NICU. Alex and Arizona are watching her" Derek gave her a sad smile

"What's wrong?" Meredith asked, knowing something was up

"She.. She had no oxygen for a while-" Derek started to explain

"No.." Meredith whispered

"She's breathing now. She- She'll be okay" He told her "She just.."

"Derek" Meredith whispered, trying to sit up a bit but wincing in pain

"She suffered brain damage, Mer"

"Mer? Meredith?" Derek shook her awake as she was sobbing in her sleep

Meredith shook up right. "Oh.. I- oh.."

"What was that about?" Derek asked her

"I.. Ellie.." She sighed

"Come here" Derek said and wrapped her in his arms "She'll get every chance in life, Mer. We're doing a good job with her" Derek whispered in her ear

"My poor baby" Meredith whispered back

"She's happy. Zola and Bailey are so good for her" Derek told her

"I know" Meredith sighed

"Let's get ready" Derek said

"Can we call them first?" Meredith asked

Derek nodded and grabbed his phone and dialed Alex' number

"Hey, Shep" Alex' voice was heard

"Hi, Alex. How have the kids been" Meredith said

"They're having breakfast. I'm gonna put you on speaker" He said

"Mommy, daddy!" Zola en Bailey yelled through the phone

"M-ommy! D-addy!" Ellis' voice was heard a bit later

"Hi guys. How are you?" Derek asked

"We slept well! I slept with Ellie!" Bailey told them

"Ellie, baby. Are you okay?" Meredith hovered

"M-ommy, me s-ared. Help Bay. Bay me help"

"Thank you Bailey for taking care of your sister" Derek spoke up

"Are you good now Ellie?" Meredith asked

"Me g-ood!" She admitted

"We'll be home tomorrow night" Meredith told them

"Yaaa!" Ellis screamed

Bailey and Zola's giggles were heard through the phone

"Me sch-ool m-ommy?" Ellis asked

"Hey, all three of you have school today" Meredith told them

"Now guys, go brush your teeth so we can leave" Alex told them

"Alex, how was she this morning?" Meredith asked as she heard the kids running away

"Her shirt was wet from the drooling and she had a few morning spasms. She was overstretching her back when I entered her room but Bailey was already holding her hand" Alex told them

Meredith nodded as a tear escaped her eye.

"Did she take her pills?" Derek asked

"She did" Alex confirmed

"Did she nebulize?" Meredith asked

"She did. I helped her and Zola was distracting her by showing her a picture book" Alex told them "She's good, guys" Alex said

"Thanks Alex" Derek said

They could hear the kids running back in

"Now say bye bye to mommy and daddy" Alex said

"Bye mom, bye dad" Zola said

"Byeeeee" Bailey yelled

"Luf!" Ellis shouted

"Love you too guys, love you all" Meredith and Derek said at the same time before hanging up the phone

"I'm glad they're okay" Meredith sighed in relief

"They're fine, Mer. Now let's get ready" Derek said before going for a shower "Wanna join me?" He said with a smirk

"Quick" Meredith giggled

...

"I'm almost done here" Meredith said as she was finishing her stitches

"I still have to check his reflections once you're done" Derek said and gave her a warm smile from behind his mask

Meredith returned one when her phone started ringing

"Can someone tell me who's calling?" Meredith asked the nurses

"Alex Karev" One of the nurses replied

"Take the call and put on speaker, please" Meredith said with a tremble in her voice, immediately sharing a worried look with Derek

"Mer? Are you still in surgery?" Alex' voice was heard

"I'm almost done, what's wrong Alex?" She asked

"I got Ellis from school, her teacher called me to tell me there was a small accident. Another kid pushed her and she wouldn't calm down. I got her home but her spasms are worse. She can't walk, everything hurts and she keeps crying. She had a seizure a few minutes ago." Alex told her

"Ellie.." Meredith whispered, totally frozen in her spot "I'm gonna wrap this up and I take a plane home" Meredith said without hesitation

"Mer.." Derek tried to stop her

"I'm going Der. This was a big mistake" Meredith said "Alex, I'm gonna be home in 5 hours. Put me on speaker please" She begged him

"Ellie, it's mommy" Alex's voice was heard in between the little girl's sobs and cries

"Hey baby, mommy will be home soon. Uncle Alex will give you a warm bath and then you have to try to sleep a bit more, okay sweetie?" Meredith's voice was cracking

"M-ommy" She sobbed

"I'll be home real quick. Try to take a long nap and then i'll wake you" Meredith told the little girl as a tear escaped her eye

"Kay" The little girl whispered

"Mommy and daddy love you" Meredith replied

"I'll ask Maggie to come get you at the airport" Alex said

"Thanks" Meredith whispered "See you in a bit"

"Bye" Alex said before hanging up

"Mer.." Derek whispered

"I'm wrapping up and then I'll take the plane back" Meredith said

"Call me when you're in Seattle. I'll bring your luggage with me tomorrow. Tell Ellie I love her" Derek said as he and Meredith were looking into each other's eyes

"I will" Meredith said as she stepped back from the patient after double checking if everything was good

"Love you" Derek said as a nurse helped her out of the gown

"Love you too, I'll miss you" She whispered as she stepped into the scrubroom.

Meredith hurried out of the hospital and jumped into a cab without thinking. Her daughter needed her parents

She hurried her way to the airport. She bought her ticket during the car ride.

Meredith was now on her way home, feeling horrible for leaving the kids in the first place