Grey's Anatomy One Shots

Sports Day

Meredith wasn't quite sure who came up with the idea for Grey-Sloan Family Sports Day, but she was going to kill Bailey for agreeing with it. It's not that she didn't love her kids and wanted to spend time with. Mer spent a lot of time playing tag with Ellis, in the back garden, kicking a ball around in a lame attempt of soccer with Bailey and helped Zola with some amateur gymnastics but sports day was something else.

Sports day meant egg and spoon races, three legged races and who knew what else. Meredith was not athletic, not by a long shot and would have happily just watched everyone else take part. Unfortunately, her kids had seen the flyer that Amelia had bought home with her and were determined that Meredith took part in every parent race that was being held. She'd tried for a while to convince them that Maggie or Amelia could also take part, but her kids all had her stubborn streak. So, Meredith now found herself signed up to more races that she had ever done in her life.

The day of the event had been cursed with sunshine. Meredith had been hoping for a downpour of rain so the whole thing could get called off, but her kids had run into her bedroom that morning, with Zola yanking the curtain open and lo and behold, sunlight had come streaming in.

When they had made it to the field, Meredith laid out the picnic blanket. Catching the kids before they all ran off, she made sure that they were slathered with sunscreen. The courses were still being set up and families still needed to arrive, so Mer took the opportunity to lay down and close her eyes, using the discarded jackets as a pillow. She was just about ready to drift off when a soccer ball came flying into her side.

"Ooft," Mer shot upright to see her son with a cheeky grin on his face.

"Sorry, mommy." Not that Bailey looked or sounded sorry in slightest

He quickly changed to his face to his puppy-dog eyes which reminded her exactly of Derek and all she could do was laugh.

"It's fine, sweetie but mommy isn't the goal post."

"Are you gonna come and join us?" Ellis begged as she ran to join her brother.

"Please, mommy, it'll be fun!" Zola added in.

One of them she might have been able to say no to, maybe even two but when then three of them got together, she stood no chance. The moment she had become a mother, Meredith had known that she wanted a part of her kids' lives in a way that her mother never had been. Ellis Grey wouldn't be seen dead at a family sports day but for Meredith, as much as she had been dreading the actual races, these were the kind of days that she loved most.

Surgery was amazing, the thrill and the rush of adrenaline that she got from it was always going to be one of her favourite feelings, but nothing would beat how she felt when she spent time with her kids. Even when they left the house a mess and drove her crazy, Mer knew that she would give up everything for them.

So, Meredith pushed herself up from her seat, picking up the soccer ball and ran with it. It took her kids a minute to realise what was going on before they ran after her.

"Mommy, that isn't how you play soccer!" Bailey yelled behind her.

She looked back over at them and laughed, wishing that they would always be this carefree and happy. Eventually she stopped in her tracks and threw the ball to Ellis.

"Come on, Ellie Belle, it's us against them."

As she caught the ball, Ellis stuck her tongue out to her younger siblings and as quick as her little legs would take her. A quick look over her should made her see that Bailey was close to catching up with her and out of panic, Ellis quickly launched the ball away from her, to whoever was nearest. Who happened to be the Head of Paediatric Surgery.

"Ellis," Meredith jogged over to her kids, all three of whom were grinning up at the Irish surgeon. "What did we say about throwing the ball at guests?"

"But Dr Mac isn't a guest momma, we're not home!"

Sometimes Meredith wished her kids weren't that logical but at five-years-old, Ellis had an answer for everything.

"Still, baby, we've got to be careful and only throw to people who are in the game."

"Dr Hayes doesn't mind. Do you Dr Hayes?" Bailey turned to Cormac who grinned before kneeling with the soccer ball in hand.

"Absolutely not, Bailey but your mother is right, you have to be careful, okay?"

Ellis nodded eagerly at Cormac who gave her a wink.

"And how are you doing, Miss Zola? How did that science project go?"

Beaming, Zola pushed her chest out in pride. "I got the best in the class! Mrs Johnson said it's the best she's ever seen!"

"I'm impressed, you're going to have to show me some time."

"I could bring it to the hospital, if that okay with you, Mommy?" Zola turned to look at her mom.

Still in a little shock over how well Cormac seemed to know her kids, she managed to nod. "Yeah, sure thing, Zozo. You can bring it with you next time you come into work with me."

"And how about you, Bailey? Did you manage to make the soccer team?"

Bailey sighed dramatically. "Yeah," he drew out looking at the ground.

"You don't seem too happy about that."

"I am!" Bailey quickly shot back, not wanting Dr Hayes to think that he didn't enjoy soccer anymore. "But because stuff's closed, they said we have to wait until the new school year to play."

"Ahh," Cormac nodded in understanding, "I see, well that just gives you time to practice over Summer, right? And then you can get even better."

Not having thought of it that way, Bailey was suddenly very excited about being on the soccer team again.

"Momma said I can start swimming lessons when they open again!" Ellis piped up, not wanting to be left out.

"Oh really," Cormac smiled and arched an eyebrow. "Is that going to make you a mermaid princess then?"

"Yes!" Ellis started to jump up and down, nearly tripping over her own feet.

Meredith held out her hands to stead her little girl. "Alright you three, why don't you get the ball back from Dr Hayes and go play, I'll join you guys in a second."

"Okay, it was really nice seeing you again, Dr Hayes!" Zola flashed him a bright smile as she took the ball.

"Are you here for sports day? Will you come and play with us later?"

Before Meredith was able to object and say that Cormac probably had better things to do, he replied. "I'm here with my boys and I'm sure they'd love to join us as well if you don't mind."

The prospect of having other boys to play was the best news Bailey could have had. "Yes, thank, Dr Hayes! Zola! Zola, guess what?" And with that Bailey was chasing after his sister to tell her his good news.

Ellis was the only one left and Meredith wondered why she hadn't gone with her brother and sister yet but suddenly Ellis wrapped her arms around Cormac's neck. "Bye, Dr Mac." Giggling, she let go and went to join Ellis and Bailey.

Cormac straightened himself to full height, "What?" He saw the curious look on Meredith's face.

"How do you and my kids know each other so well?"

Chuckling nervously, Cormac answered, "I-uh, spent a lot of time talking to them on video chat when they would ring to talk to you. I hope you don't mind..."

He was worried that he had overstepped a mark. At the time, he just wanted to help cheer them up. He knew how his sons had been when their mom had been in hospital and at least she had been awake and responsive.

"Mind? No, but I hope you're ready because they're going to have a million and one questions whenever they see you." She was teasing him, but it was also true. Her kids were just an inquisitive as she was.

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me. You've got a great bunch there, Grey. Seem to take after their mother."