What if

Early June (part 9)

(Meredith POV)

I woke up and went downstairs. Derek was asleep beside me this time. Slowly, my body was getting stronger. Considering it had only been a few days since I've been home, i was still super sore and couldn't move much.

"Good morning, sweetie. Do you want some coffee? The kids aren't up yet." Carolyn asked politely.

"Sure. Why are you up so early?" I asked with a smile. "Early riser. Why are you up so early?" Carolyn retorted.

"My chest was sore and I couldn't get comfortable." I replied. "I'm sorry, dear." Carolyn said apologetically.

"How about you go lay down on the couch? I'll make some breakfast and you can just curl up and relax." She suggested. "Carolyn, you don't-" I started.

"Meredith, I know you were never really close to your mother which I'm assuming means she didn't really take care of you, so let me do that for you now. Please?" Carolyn asked.

I gave a small smile and nodded. "Okay, good. Go sit on the couch with a blanket and turn the tv on. I'll make breakfast. Does eggs and toast sound good?" She questioned.

"That's good. Thank you." I said.

(Derek POV)

I woke up to an empty bed and panicked. I quickly looked in the bathroom and then heard her snores coming from Downstairs and little voices.

I went downstairs and was confused to see Meredith asleep on the couch, curled up into a ball. "The kids are in here, dear." Mom said.

"Why is she down here?" I asked.

"She came down early and said her chest was sore and she couldn't get comfortable. So I made her lay down and she fell asleep. Let me tell you, Derek, she needs some serious mothering." Mom said softly.

I chuckled. "She does. Let's go see the kids." I suggested.

"Hi daddy." Ellis said with a grin as she ate breakfast. "Hi sweetie. Whatcha eating?" I asked as I grabbed a piece of bacon off her plate. "Daddy!" She squealed.

"Why's mama sleeping again?" Bailey asked. "Mama needs her rest, remember?" I asked. "Yeah, but I'm bored. I thought when mama came home she would be able to play with us." He replied.

"She may be able to go outside and watch you guys on the swing set." Mom said. "When she wakes up, can we do that?" Bailey begged. "Sure, if she's feeling up to it."

Sure enough, a little while later Meredith woke up and agreed to it. I wrapped an arm around her waist as we went outside and she took a seat.

"Watch me, mama!" Zola exclaimed as she did a cartwheel on the grass. "That's so cool, Zo!" Meredith replied enthusiastically.

"Are you feeling okay?" I asked softly as I sat down next to her. "I'm okay." She confirmed. "Maybe we can go for a short walk outside?" She suggested hopefully. I knew she'd be bored, but she can't.

"Mer, you struggled to get to the bathroom last night from bed. Do you really think you can go for a short walk?" I asked gently.

"Derek." Meredith whined. "Mer."

"No." She whispered. "I can push you In the wheelchair if you really want to get out. But no walking." I offered.

"Yes please." Meredith replied eagerly. I smiled and kissed her softly. "Okay. I'll round up the kids. Do you need help changing?" I asked.

"I think I'll manage." She smirked.

(Meredith POV)

I changed into some sweats and a sweatshirt and took a break on the bed before going downstairs. Covid is really no joke. And then on top of that a heart transplant is not fun.

I got downstairs and Met Derek at the door, waiting for me with a wheelchair. I rolled my eyes before plopping down in it.

"Mama, can I sit with you?" Bailey asked. "Sure, bails." I replied. He smiled and climbed on my lap. He was almost 8 years old, but he was still kind of small for his age.

"I missed you bails." I breathed into his blonde hair. He looked like a clone of me, but when he smiled, that was all Derek.

"I missed you too Mama. So did Zola. And Ellie. And daddy. Daddy cried." Bailey informed. "Daddy cried?" I asked, looking up and Derek who looked embarrassed.

"Yeah. He had a scary dream and he woke up and was crying. Grandma helped though." He explained. "What was the dream about?" I questioned, more to Derek than Bailey.

"Nothing. I'll tell you later." Derek said, his eyes begging me to drop it. I nodded and put my hand that wasn't wrapped around Bailey on his and squeezed.

We went around the block before the kids wanted to go bsck home. Carolyn and the kids went ahead to the house, while Derek and I hung back. "You had bad dreams?" I asked gently.

I heard him take a sharp intake of breath and grabbed his hand again. "Only a few." He admitted. "Do you want to talk about it?" I asked as we rolled slowly on the sidewalk.

"I dreamt that you didn't wake up. I had to take you off the vent. And I watched as you...as you took your last breath." He said, getting choked up.

I stopped the wheelchair and stood up and pushed my body flush up against his. "I'm right here." I whispered into his chest. "I'm okay, we're okay. I survived. We survived." I said as I wrapped my arms tightly around him and rested my head on his chest.

"I can't lose you, Mer. I don't know what i would do without you." He whispered. I could feel a few tears hit my scalp and I looked up at him.

"I know. 110, in each other's arms, right?" I asked. Derek nodded and kissed he softly. "I love you, you know that right?"

"I know. I love you too Mer." He replied as I got back into the chair and headed back home.

Hey guys! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and hope your all doing well. If you guys have any ideas for future chapters feel free to drop them! Thanks for reading.