Are you with me

24

"Bailey, are you ready?" Meredith asked as she placed Ellis' bag on the ground in front of the door

"I am" He smiled

"Good. Can you go get Zola upstairs for me? Dad is loading in the car" Meredith explained as Bailey nodded

Meredith made her way back to Ellis' room where the little girl was sitting in her chair, waiting for her mom to return

"Mommy" She smiled "I put on my sweater!" She smiled

"That's amazing! Let's empty your catheter first so we can change your pants too" Meredith smiled and did so

Once Meredith and Derek had gotten the kids in the car, they drove to town. Derek parked the car and smiled softly at Meredith

They would meet with his sisters and his mom who all went for breakfast but they had skipped that with the kids but this afternoon they would have lunch together and they would try to enjoy the day. It was cold and it had rained a few times so both Meredith and Derek had made sure that the kids were dressed in warm clothes

"Come on honey" Meredith lifted up Ellis and placed her in the wheelchair "It's been a long time since we came here"

Derek grabbed Ellis' bag and hung it at the back of her chair. They made sure that they brought her a change of clothes in case of any accidents and anything else she may need such as meds

"Mommy, look!" Zola pointed at the entrance of the aquarium

"I can't believe we haven't been here since so long" Meredith smiled

Meredith started pushing Ellis' wheelchair on the slightly uphill street to the aquarium

Meredith smiled as Bailey was explaining to Derek about how happy he was while Zola was talking to Amelia, her personal favourite aunt.

Meredith was trying to avoid Nancy as best as she could, which of course isn't easy when you're out as a family

They were now at a restaurant, Meredith and Derek sitting at one side of the table with the kids, the sisters and Carolyn on the other side. Zola was talking to Meredith about the things they had seen at the aquarium while Derek and his sisters were chatting away about their families

"So, Meredith. What about that Harper Avery Award?" Nancy asked

"What?" She snapped out of the conversation with Zola, rubbing her daughter's arm in apology, confused as to why this was being brought up.

"Why didn't you go to the ceremony?" Nancy repeated

"Nancy-" Derek warned

"What Derek? It is a very prestigious award, she could at least be bothered to show up." Nancy protested

"Mommy was doing surgery," Zola said with a proud smile, "Then she got the award with all of our family around her, I think that was better than the ceremony."

"I think so too Zozo," Meredith smiled as she kissed Zola's forehead.

"Anyway," Kathleen intervened "I'm excited to see the space needle"

"Thanks honey" Meredith smiled at Zola as the other adults started talking again

"Mommy?" Ellis whispered

"What's wrong Ellis?" Meredith turned a bit and saw her youngest daughter drooping in her chair

"I'm tired" The little girl whispered

"Do you wanna sit in my lap?" Meredith offered and smiled as the little girl nodded her head

Meredith unstrapped Ellis and lifted her on her lap. She made sure that she was supporting the little girl so she could rest a bit. Ellis placed her head onto Meredith's chest, taking a fistful of her top and closing her eyes. Derek looked at Ellis and run his hand over her head but frowned a bit