Youngest Shepherd

White wedding

Ava sits with the residents as they watch Alex presentation about his African kids.

"Adorable African children, shameless ego stroking ... Karev is a genius." Cristina says to the rest of the residents.

"Yeah, he's single-handedly stealing chief resident out from under all of us, and we're helping him do it. I mean, we can't exactly refuse to treat little sick kids without making ourselves look bad." Jackson tells them.

"Oh, he is a genius. Or ... That's what they say in Swahili." April says something Swahili.

"Well, he only has a shot because I've been benched. But then honestly have any of you got a chance against Shepherd." Cristina says as they all look at Ava who was watching Alex presentation.

"My Alzheimer's trial kicks African-orphan ass. It kicks all of your asses." Meredith says to all of them.

"Do you want to keep it down back there? I'm trying to listen to what appears to be the next chief resident talking." Richard says as all the residents roll their eyes.

"Before we go, I just want to say thank you to all of you for your participation. It, uh, truly means more than I could say." Alex says to all of them.

"Slow clap. They're giving him the slow clap. Come on. I'm not giving him the slow clap. Ridiculous." Jackson says as Ava chuckles at his behaviour.
-
"I mean, you'd think being on the chief's research project would help in the race for chief resident. You might even think it'd make me a contender. Only I'm not saving little kids or people with Alzheimer's. I'm cleaning up mouse poop. Can you hand me that basin?" Jackson asks Ava as she sits in the lab making notes.

"Wanna hear my conversation with the chief every morning? "- Avery, how are the mice? Oh, they're fine, chief." "They're running on their wheels. They're eating their cheese." If I worked at a pet store, I'd be employee of the month by now. But I'm a surgeon, babysitting a bunch of mice." Jackson rambles on as Ava chuckles at him.

"Until you get F. D. A. approval, okay, which, I'm sure you're gonna be working on humans any day now." Ava reassures him as he walks over and kisses her which she returns.

"You've probably best us all anyway I mean your going to be double board certified and all the attending's love you. People listen to you and you do well in a crisis." Jackson says as he looks at Ava.

"Anything could happen but you'll still love me when I beat you right?" Ava says smiling as Jackson laughs.

"Nothing could stop me loving you." He says to her as she kisses him again.
-
Ava walked into one of patient room in the peds floor as Derek just paged her.

"Hey Derek." She says as she sees the baby. "And who might you be miss cutie?" Ava asks in a baby voice.

"Ava this is Zola. Me and Meredith are thinking about adopting her." Ava looks at her brother a huge smile on her face.

"Oh Derek that's great. Both my brothers are going to be dads. You Zola are very lucky you have a great daddy and mommy but I'm your aunt Ava and we're going to have so much fun." Ava says to them.

"You want to hold her?" Derek asks Ava as she nods her head taking the baby from Derek.

"Your just so precious." Ava says as she hugs Zola.

"We're still doing the legal stuff so just keep it to yourself for now." Derek says to Ava as she nods her head.

"Of course. You'll be a great dad Derek." Ava tells him as he smiles.

"You think so?" Derek asks her.

"Definitely. I didn't get the chance to know dad but you really stepped up for me for all of us. That's how I know you be a great dad Derek." Ava tells him.

"I know you didn't know dad but your the most like him." Derek says.

"How do?" Ava asks him.

"Mom used to say you were the most like him because of who you are. Your laugh and your smile are just like him. And when you concentrate you squint your eyes just like he did. And how you interact with people you make them feel love and care and safe just like he did. You are so much like him Ava." Derek tells her as she smiles.

"Well he gave you all his good looks from the pictures." Ava tells him as Derek chuckles.

"I should go I need to get ready for the wedding I'll see you both later bye Zola." Ava says as she hands the baby back to Derek before she leaves.
-
Ava walks out of the bathroom as she changed to see Jackson stood in his suit.

"Don't you look Handsome Dr Avery." Ava says smiling at him as he turned around as he jaw dropped.

"You look amazing." Jackson says to Ava as he walks up to her and wraps his arms around her waist as he kisses her.
-

"So my date just called to say she got stuck delivering a baby. Literally ... the baby got stuck halfway out." Alex says as he walks over to Owen Cristina Jackson Lexie and Ava.

"I was wrong to doubt the mice. Karev, watch your back, 'cause mouse J. has just made me a contender. Thank you, mouse J.To mouse J." Jackson says as he clinks his glass with Ava's.

"You're not the only contenders, you know? My sources tell me that Kepner could be a dark horse." Owen tells them.

"Oh, please. No offense, Dr. Hunt, but, uh, I have you scheduled for a Swenson procedure on a 2-year-old orphan tomorrow morning. I'm sure you understand. I'm just looking out for the kids that I brought here from Africa." Alex says trying to impress Hunt as he takes his drink off him.

"You can all keep dreaming I've got this." Ava tells them.

"And what makes you so sure?" Alex asks his best friend.

"First I'm a shepherd we're the best at everything we do. Second I'm organised, efficient and hard working all the qualities of chief resident and finally I'm becoming double board certified that's impressive." Ava tells them as they laugh.