Never grow up [1/2]

16

It's been a couple of hours since the family arrived at the zoo. They were walking through the park as the kids were watching the animals

Ellis was quiet and looked amazed at the animals that were surrounding her

"Ellie, wanna go to play a bit on the playground?" Meredith asked the little girl after Bailey and Zola were begging Meredith and Derek to play

"Mo-key!" She said

"We'll see the monkey's later. Wanna play a bit with your siblings?"

"Kay" She smiled

Meredith unbuckled her from the chair and Ellis got out and grabbed Bailey and Zola's hand and they ran off to the playground. Meredith and Derek sat down on a bench and started watching the kids play until a random kid caused a scene because Ellis apparently was too slow

"Mommy!" Zola yelled

Meredith and Derek both stood up, not caring about their stuff and ran to the kids

Ellis was sniffling

"M- M.. M-o" She was barely able to continue talking

"Hey, hey.. Calm down, baby. Do I need to help you down the slide?" Meredith asked Ellis

The girl nodded her head until the kid behind them started complaining again

"Why is she so slow? Why can't she talk and why can't she walk?"

"She's careful and taking her time, she can talk and she can walk" Meredith replied, not taking her eyes away from Ellis who gave Meredith a hand to slide down

"Good job baby" Meredith smiled as Ellis slide down

"M-mmy" Ellis had so much difficulty getting this out that it hurt Meredith. This was supposed to be a good day and now all of it would be ruined..

"Ellie, Zola and I will play there" Bailey pointed at the sandbox

"Is that okay Ellie?" Meredith checked and the little girl agreed

Meredith followed the kids and stayed with them for a bit, making sure everything was fine. Her hands were barely clutching, only her speech affected this time

Meredith made her way back to Derek and sat down next to him

"I hate some parents.." She muttered

"I know" Derek sighed in response

Time went by and the kids kept playing and laughing until the other kid returned. This time, it seemed as if he took a few friends and they were laughing and pointing at Ellis from a distance. Ellis didn't notice but Meredith and Derek did. They decided it would be best to continue watching the animals so Derek got their bags and Meredith went to get the kids

Ellis and Bailey were both holding Meredith's hand while Zola ran to help her father

When Meredith helped Ellis back into the chair, being tired after playing, those kids returned and started asking questions again

"She's weird, why does she need a wheelchair?"

"She isn't weird. She just can't walk that long" Derek replied while Meredith tried to give all her attention to Ellis who's lower lip was trembling by now

"Let's go see the monkey's" Meredith told Ellis

"She's weird" The kids commented again

"No she isn't" Meredith said sternly

"Come on, we're going" Derek said and started pushing the wheelchair away from the playground

Ellis' wrists started to clench against her torso so Meredith kneeled down next to her

"Ellie, look at me. Look at mommy" Meredith said, trying to get some attention from Ellis

"M- M..ommy"

"That's right, I'm here and so are daddy and Zola and Bailey. We're all here and we all love you" Meredith's fingers stroking Ellis' cheek

Ellis started to shift on her seat so Meredith got her out of the chair and pulled her into her arms

"We love you so so much, Ellie Belle" She whispered in the little girl's ear

"L- Luf" Ellis whispered back

"I'm carrying her for a bit, maybe it will loosen her wrists again when she calms down" Meredith told Derek and started whispering sweet things in Ellis' ear

As they continued walking, they reached the monkeys

"Look Ellie" Meredith pointed at the monkeys

"Key! M-key" She whispered, being exhausted after the event that happened a bit before

"Look at the little one" Meredith told Ellis

"B-aby" Ellis giggled

They were watching the monkeys and the baby monkey got carried by its mother

"B-abby m-ommy!" Ellis pointed out

"The mommy is watching her baby. She's carrying her like I carry you" Meredith smiled

Meredith was holding Ellis close to her body as she heard Bailey saying he's hungry

"We packed a small picnic. We can go to the grass field and have lunch" Derek replied

"Did you make sandwiches with cheese?" Zola asked with big eyes

"I did" Meredith giggled

"Thank you mommy! It's my favourite!" Zola smiled

"I know" Meredith giggled "Bailey, Ellis, I made yours with chicken"

"Thank you" Bailey smiled

"Th-ank m-ommy!" Ellis smiled too

"You're welcome" She smiled at the kids

Derek placed the blanket on the ground and the family took a seat on it. While they were waiting, Bailey started fidgeting with the grass, Zola was helping Derek to unpack everything and Ellis sat between Meredith's legs while her mom was making a ponytail in her hair

"N-ooo" Ellis shook her head

"Hey, calm down. It's just to eat lunch. There's wind and otherwise all your hair will fly in your mouth" Meredith whispered, not wanting the little girl to cause a scene

"Did we forget her bib?" Derek asked as he was going through their bags

"Oh no, I left it in the car after she ate those pieces of watermelon at the gas station" Meredith sighed "I think, don't we-" She started ruffling in the bags with a stressed expression

"Hey" Derek grabbed her hand "It's okay. We can use a small towel and otherwise we'll change her shirt" He whispered

Meredith nodded and quickly her hands were brushing Zola's hair

"Mer, are you okay?" Derek asked

"I am" She quickly replied

"Ch-cken!" Ellis yelled

"I'm sorry, I- Derek, can you hand me one with chicken for Ellie?" Meredith asked

Derek nodded and grabbed a sandwich for each, also for Meredith

"Derek, I'll eat a bit later. I can't do those two things at the same time" She sighed

They ate their lunch and when the kids played a bith with some packed toys, Meredith finally found a few minutes to quickly eat her own food in between watching the kids with Derek