Are you with me

9

"Good morning" Meredith smiled as she saw Ellis opening her eyes

"Mommy" Ellis smiled as her mother kissed her cheek

"Guess what, daddy's getting you some breakfast" Meredith giggled

"Really?" She looked at her with wide eyes

"How are you feeling?" Meredith asked Ellis

Ellis shrugged

"Any pain in your back?" Meredith asked

"Not really" Ellis honestly replied

"What would you think about washing up and wearing your own pajamas?" Meredith suggested

Ellis nodded with a smile

Meredith asked a nurse to go get some hot water so she could wash her youngest daughter

Meredith grabbed a washcloth and made it wet before cleaning Ellis' body slowly and carefully

Ellis kept quiet as her eyes were following Meredith's hand while her other was connected with her daughter's

"I need to turn you over, okay?" Meredith asked and rolled Ellis on her side so Meredith could gently wash the little girl's back "Am I hurting you?" Meredith asked

"Not really" Ellis quietly said

"If I hurt you, just tell me" Meredith kissed Ellis' cheek

"Why can't I shower?" Ellis asked

"Because you need to sit up by yourself first but until then, I'll help you, okay?" Meredith asked

"Kay" Ellis quietly said

Meredith rolled Ellis back on her back and finished washing the little girl

"Can we go outside?" Ellis asked

"Oh-" Meredith gasped, not knowing the answer "Maybe when your chair has arrived we can ask Tom. And if it feels comfortable enough we can make a small walk in the hallway" Meredith said and Ellis nodded

"It will be here today, right?" Ellis asked

"You're very right" Meredith smiled and was now finished washing Ellis. She helped the little girl to dress up in her favourite dark green sweats as someone knocked on the door

"Hi princess" Derek smiled as he entered the room

"Daddy!" Ellis smiled

"Look what I got!" Derek pulled out croissants and donuts

"Wow" Ellis giggled "Cookie monster donuts!" Ellis smiled

...

"Okay monkey, are you ready to see your chair?" Derek asked and Ellis nodded in return

Meredith pushed the chair inside and saw her daughter inspecting it carefully

"So, what do you think?" Derek carefully asked

"It matches my sweats" Ellis giggled

"It does" Meredith's hand brushed over Ellis' head

"I see your new chair arrived" Tom said as he walked in

"It's green!" Ellis smiled

"I see! It's beautiful and I bet you'll be able to race really fast" Tom said

"I'll beat uncle Alex"

"Of course you will! Maybe race me next time, your uncle Alex always loses" Tom laughed