Chasing Cars

Chapter 17

Meredith was asleep with Maddie on her chest. The girl hadn't noticed yet and Derek was anxiously waiting for the moment she would

Maddie had been acting different over the past days, she was not the happy girl he was used to see

He knew he had been missing out a lot of his daughter's life as he had decided to stay in Seattle instead of follow his ex wife and daughter

His ex wife..

He needed to change that. He wanted her back. He wanted the love of his life back at home together with their daughter

"Right mommy?" Maddie said but she got no response. "Mama?" Maddie frowned and turned to face Meredith, seeing her asleep. "Mama!" She pouted

"Shh, Mads. Mommy's sleeping a bit." Derek tried to stop his daughter but she got very upset

"Mommy needs to pway! Pway with me!" Maddie cried, causing Meredith to stir

"Maddie, stop-" Derek said and got up

"No!" Maddie threw her arms in the air, accidentally pulling at the heart rate sensor, causing it to disconnect and make the long loud sound

"Hmm.." Meredith groaned waking up from the sound

"Mama?!" Maddie cried, really fed up

"Damnit, Maddie.." Derek was losing his patience. "I said be gentle with mommy.." He had no idea what to do, he had never seen his daughter like this

"What happened?" Meredith frowned as Derek quickly grabbed the wire and tried to attach it again

"Shh, Maddie pulled out your wire. It's okay, how are you feeling?" He asked her softly as the noise finally stopped

"Tired.. and can I have some more anti nausea meds?" Meredith asked him

"Of course." Derek nods, frowning slightly as he pressed the nurse button, not wanting to leave the room since Meredith wasn't feeling great

"Mama kay?" Maddie frowned

"I'm okay, baby." Meredith tried to assure her daughter while trying not to start throwing up

Derek ordered the nurse to get some meds and he injected them into her port. Stroking her bald head a little until Meredith seemed to get a little better

"Where's my doll?" Maddie asked as she couldn't find it in her bag

"Oh I think we forgot it in my office." Derek frowned as he took a look as well

"No!" Maddie threw her bag down

"Derek, mind getting it? I think I need a little chat with Maddie." Meredith frowned at the behavior of her daughter

"Sure." Derek nods, he seemed really hurt and Meredith couldn't ignore this any longer

"Maddie.. It's not okay how you treat daddy." Meredith said sternly as she pushed herself a bit more upright

"But daddy wasn't nice. And the hospibal neither! I couldn't see you, mommy!" She pouts

"It's not daddy's fault. Mommy got sick, I need treatment and sometimes it's a bit hard. But daddy is taking such good care of you, sweetie.." Meredith whispered, holding her daughter's hand

"But it's always been you and me.." Maddie whispered, feeling guilty

"I know sweetie. And that's my fault. But from now on daddy will be a bigger part of your life, I think we should move back to Seattle." Meredith hugged her daughter

"I'd like that.." Maddie nods as her lower lip started trembling

"So from now on it's you, mommy and daddy. Okay?" Meredith cupped Maddie's face in her shaky pale hand

"Otay mommy." Maddie nodded. "I need to say sowrry to daddy." She said sternly

"Yes, monkey. You hurt your daddy's feelings and it makes him sad but I'm sure that your hugs and kisses will make him feel much, much better." Meredith told her daughter and watched as the little girl started waiting impatiently for her dad

Derek quietly walked back inside, walking a bit on egg shells as he was scared for another fit from his daughter

"Daddy!" Maddie looked up to him and jumped in his arms

"Hey monkey, is everything okay?" He frowned

"Daddy, I am so sowrry!" Maddie whimpered in his arms. "It's you, mommy and me from now on!" She promised him

"I think Maddie wants to say she's sorry, and I do too. It was a bit selfish to leave Seattle. I shouldn't have done this all for a job. I now realize there are more important things. So Mads and I will come back to Seattle. She needs her dad. Especially.. just in case.. you know.." Meredith trailed off

"No just in cases." Derek said sternly. "But I'd love having you two back here, yes." He smiled and hugged them both

"Maddie, maybe you and daddy should go have some lunch now.." Meredith suggested as she felt weak and tired. Her stomach had been bothering her and she was overall just really tired and she didn't want Derek and Maddie to see her like that

"But mommy, we can get it and eat it here!" She suggests

"Sweetie, I don't know if that's such a good idea.." Meredith mumbled as she placed her hand on her stomach and felt her eyes closing slowly

"I'm gonna take her out for lunch but I'll bring you something. You really need to eat, Mer.

Eventually Meredith drifted off and had been asleep until Derek and Maddie returned two hours later

"Mama!" She heard Maddie's giggles. "Mama, wake up! Daddy brought you a fruity drink and a bagel!" She announced but the thought of food made Meredith's stomach turn already

"Hmm.. thanks." Meredith faked a smile and sat up with some help from Derek, weakly reaching out for the smoothie and sipping some until she felt the pain in her stomach getting more intense and she placed the cup down again

"Oh, you used to love strawberries and banana smoothies." Derek muttered

"I thought so too.." Meredith ground and covered herself with the blankets once Maddie had climbed in her arms

"It's kay mommy. Wanna try the bagel?"

"Not yet, monkey." Meredith kissed Maddie's head and just rested her head down on the soft pillow

We hope you enjoyed! Thanks to my co-writer _Ktje_