Youngest Shepherd

Hope for the Hopeless

Ava sat beside Jackson as they ate their breakfast as Meredith was finishing Zola's birthday cake.

"Oh, damn it. I screwed it up." Meredith exclaims trying to correct her mistake.

""Gag Zola," really?" Jackson asks looking at the cake.

"Those aren't G's. Those are Y's for "Yay.""Yay Zola."" Meredith tells the couple seeing their expressions.

"See, a normal person would've just written "Happy birthday."" Jackson tells her as Ava chuckles putting her bowl in the sink before standing beside Meredith.

"Well, I couldn't fit all those letters on the cake." Meredith tells them.

"Here let me do it." Ava says taking the icing from Meredith and decorating the cake.

"Okay, who used up the last of my deodorant?" April asks as she walked into the kitchen both Meredith and Ava shaking their heads no.

"Oh, that might have been me.Sorry. Kinda had a workout last night." A woman says from behind the fridge.

"Coffee." Alex says as he walks into the kitchen.

"Fresh out, chief." Jackson says holding up his cup as he got the last bit.

"Wait. N-no.That's impossible.I just bought some three days ago." April says to them.

"You're out of O.J., too." Alex's woman says.

"Hey, you're still here?" He says to her.

"Oh, yeah. I was on my way out,and then I saw these cheeks. So cute." She says walking over to Zola.

"Oh! We don't touch the baby because we don't know where those hands have been." Meredith says picking up Zola.

"Alex, does." April sniggers as Jackson and Ava laugh.

"Ava can you drop Zola off at daycare?" Meredith asks her sister in law.

"Of course come here Zozo." She says taking the baby from Meredith.

"Okay, so, um, I have a meeting with Owen, so I'm off. Party is at 8:00.Don't be late." Meredith says to them all before leaving.

"I got 20 minutes before work. You wanna, you know?" Alex asks his woman.

"Yeah." She nods leaving the kitchen.

"Good. Come on." Alex says following her.

"Round two." Jackson says as he watches Ava play with Zola.

"Oh, we need to move." April says to them both.

"Do we?" Jackson asks reading the newspaper.
-
"Well, this one has a patio and a garage,but this one has hardwood floors and a washer/dryer." April says to Ava and Jackson as they get their lunch.

"You sure you want to move?"  Jackson asks April as Ava answers for her.

"April is right we should move I mean we're living with my brother I thought that would stop when he left for college." Ava says as Jackson nods his head at her as Alex walks in.

"I'll move. Zola's killing my game.Every girl I bring home wants a baby the minute they see her." Alex says going to the fridge.

"No. I'm not living with you.I am trying to get away from you." April tells him.

"All right, then you two and me.You don't want to live with Mary Poppins." Alex says to Jackson and Ava.

"No, she cooks, she cleans..." Jackson begins as Ava hits his shoulder.

"I'm also your friend." April snaps at Jackson as he looks at the two women.

"What the hell?" Alex exclaims as Meredith takes the bowl out of his hand.

"I need food for Zola's party.I thought I was gonna have time to go to the store,but Richard's 10,000th surgery is gonna take forever.You think Teddy's gonna care if I take
some of her widow casseroles?" Meredith asks as Cristina walks in.

"No. Go for it. You know what?Take this one, too.It's Turkey Tetrazzini." Cristina says handing Meredith another dish.

"Ooh, yum." She says.

"You and, um, McQueen finally find a patient who's willing to let you operate on them?" Cristina teases Alex.

"Bite my ass." He snaps at her.

"Oh, Mer, proctology.There's your specialty. Explore the mysteries of the butt." Cristina says to her as they chuckle.

"Why aren't you just doing general like your mom?It's a no-brainer." April says to Meredith.

"And good marketing.I mean, when people hear the name "Grey,"they know they're getting quality." Alex tells her.

"No, you can't win following in the footsteps of a phenom." Jackson tells her.

"Said the lame,mediocre grandson of Harper Avery." Cristina says teasing Jackson as Ava pecks him on the lips as her pager goes off.
-
Ava stands with Jackson and April as Meredith walks over to the three with Zola.

"Well aren't you just the prettiest one year old." Ava says as she kisses Zola's cheek.

"Hey, girl." April says to Zola.

"Look who didn't just wake up, huh?" Jackson says.

"Look at you.You look so beautiful. Look at that. Ohh." April says in a baby voice as Meredith looks over at Richard.

"Can you hold her a moment?" Meredith asks Ava as she gives her Zola before going over to Richard.

"Aren't you just so precious? You can't grow up this fast Zozo you need to stay a baby forever." Ava says to Zola hugging her as Zola rests her head on her shoulder.
-
"All right, I think what she's trying to say is, yes, she would be happy if you'd be our roommate." Jackson says as He and Ava walk over to April and Alex.

"Cool." Alex says.

"Just can't seem to shake you off can i Karev?" Ava teases him as he laughs before walking off.

"So... we couldn't afford the nice apartment just the three of us, right?" Jackson asks April.

"Hardwood floors and a washer/dryer.What can I say? I want what I want." April says as Ava gives out a soft laugh.

Jackson wraps his arms around Ava as she rests her head on his chest as he leans down and kisses her head.

"I love you Ava Shepherd." He tells her as smiles.

"I love you too Jackson Avery." She tells him as they hear Cristina and Owen arguing about their baby.