Easy on me

17

"Mommy! Derek and I just decorated my room!" Grace came running towards her mom

"Oh really?" Meredith smirked as she was doing some laundry "I'll come and see" She smiled

Derek had painted the rooms before they moved out here to make sure neither Grace, Meredith or the baby would have to live in the smell of paint but Grace had complained her stuffed animals weren't in the right spot just yet. Meredith had offered to do some laundry while Derek and Grace were busy

Meredith was blessed that Derek let them stay in the house. She felt free every time she woke up and looked outside. Her daughter inside her was growing, still underdeveloped but they were doing everything they could to try and get the baby on a safe weight

Meredith made her way over to Grace's room and smiled as she walked in. Derek had done a beautiful job with placing all the teddies in a row

"Wow honey! It's beautiful" Meredith gasped

"Derek did it!" Grace giggled and went to give him a hug "Derek, can Alex, Addie and Markie come see my room?" She asked quietly. They noticed she still sometimes got quiet when she had to ask something. For example she was still hesitating to ask for cereal at breakfast

"Of course! Why don't we call them and ask when they have time" Derek suggested "Mer, is that okay for you?" He asked

"Of course" Meredith nodded softly

"When do you have work?" Derek asked softly

"I have to go in tomorrow morning but only for a few hours" Meredith softly smiled "I'll take Grace to daycare, she used to enjoy it before.. everything" Meredith sighed

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it" Derek laughed and threw Grace in the air

"Derek-" Grace giggled "Mommy! I can fly!"

"I see!" Meredith giggled as well

"Why don't we go have some lunch? I bet you two would love grilled cheese"

"Can we mommy?" Grace looked at Meredith

"Derek, I can do it-" Meredith started but Derek interrupted her

"I know you can. This is me offering to make you and Grace some" He used his well known McDreamy smile to convince her

"Are you sure?" Meredith looked quilty

"Grace, do you wanna play a bit or come downstairs with us?" Derek asked

"Mommy?" Grace looked at Meredith

"Do you wanna play or wanna stay with me?" Meredith asked

"Can I play?" Grace asked

"Of course honey. Derek and I will be downstairs if you need us" Meredith kissed Grace's head and watched her run off

"Mer" Derek grabbed her hand and expected her to flinch but she didn't. She finally seemed to relax a bit "I am not Matt. I am helping you out, I'm not gonna hurt you. I promise" Derek softly said as he looked into her eyes

"It's just-" Meredith started but stopped again. She couldn't talk about her feelings but then she started thinking about what her therapist told her "I'm used to doing this alone and- I'm really scared" She finally admitted, not daring to look into Derek's piercing blue eyes

"I can get that. Just know I'm here. Always" Derek softly smiled at her

"Thanks" Meredith softly smiled

"Mommy!" She heard Grace yelling

"Hey monkey, what's wrong?" Meredith kneeled down despite her belly that was starting to get bigger and bigger by now

"Don't wanna play" She whimpered in Meredith's arms

"Come downstairs with us and then we can have grilled cheese" Meredith suggested as she tried to convince her daughter

"Mommy, you wanna carry me?" Grace asked very quietly

"Oh honey, I'll try but your sister is in the way" Meredith said and saw Grace's lower lip trembling "But let's try" Meredith groaned as she lifted Grace up and tried to place the four year old on her hip

"Hey Grace, want me to carry you?" Derek suggested but the little girl shook her head and buried her head in the crook of her mother's neck

Derek placed his hand on Meredith's back as they walked downstairs

"Here, sit down on the couch. I'll bring both of you some grilled cheese" Derek led them to the couch

"Thanks" Meredith smiled softly as Derek walked away and tightened her grip on Grace "Honey, can you tell me what upset you?" Meredith softly asked

"I- I got scared" Grace whispered

"That's completely okay. Can you try to tell me what scared you?" Meredith asked softly

"Don't wanna play alone" Grace whispered

"Why don't we play a bit after we had something to eat" Meredith softly rubbed Grace's back

"Can we play with my stuffies?" Grace quietly asked

"Of course" Meredith smiled

"Can Derek join us?" Grace asked

"You'll have to ask him, honey" Meredith kissed Grace's head

"Okay" Grace nodded softly

"Are you feeling a bit better now?" Meredith asked

"Yeah. Thank you mommy. Love you lots and lots" Grace wrapped her arms around Meredith but her stomach was in the way "I wanna meet sissy" Grace giggled

"I'm glad you are excited" Meredith smiled "Just know that mommy will always love you. I'll always need you"

"I love you too mommy" Grace breathed "Can I play with sissy when she's born?"

"She'll be very small when she's born. She might need some extra care but once she's strong and big enough I promise you cuddle and play with her" Meredith softly smiled

"Will daddy be back when the baby's here?" Grace shakely asked

"No honey. Daddy isn't coming back. He wasn't very good and daddy now gets the help he needs. He won't be back, honey" Meredith softly told her

"That's good" Grace nodded softly "I don't miss daddy. He wasn't nice to you" Grace rubbed her tiny hand over Meredith's arm

"I love you so so much" Meredith breathed as she kissed her daughter's head once more

"I love you too. So so much" Grace giggled

"Here you two go.." Derek walked in with two plates. Grilled cheese and some mayo for both of them and placed them on the coffee table in front on them

Meredith and Grace lowered themselves on the ground when Derek returned with another plate for himself

"Thank you Derek" Meredith softly smiled

"You're welcome. I hope it tastes good" Derek smiled

"It's the bestest!!" Grace said as her eyes grew wide as she kept eating