I'm still standing

2

"Is mom home?" Ellis asked as she looked around in the kitchen and living room

"She's probably showering" Derek replied and went to their bedroom to check on his wife

"Mer?" He entered the room but couldn't see her. He walked into their bathroom and saw her sitting on the toilet

"Hey, are you okay?" He walked in

"Yeah" She faked a smile

"Wanna go downstairs? The kids are home and Ellis had been asking after you" Derek gave her a hand as she stood up

"I'll need a catheter. I know I didn't want to last week but I can't ignore this anymore" Meredith pointed at the clothes in the washing machine

"Again?" Derek asked

"Yes Derek. I'm sorry, it's not as if I want this" Meredith snapped and let go of his hand and painfully made her way towards their bedroom to put on her flip flops

"Mer, I didn't mean it like that" He rubbed her back

"I know, I- I'm sorry" She started to sob

"Come here" Derek said and pulled her against his chest "I'll call Amy, she'll come over with the cathing stuff"

Meredith nodded. "Can we go for a short walk with the kids?"

"We can eat dinner at the cliff if you want" Derek kissed her head

"Sounds wonderful" Meredith smiled

Meredith and Derek made their day downstairs and told the kids about their plans. Meredith and Ellis decided to start cutting vegetables as Derek and Bailey started making the food

"Let's pack everything" Derek said and grabbed all their stuff and packed it when the doorbell rang

"I'll go!" Ellis yelled and ran off

"Hi Ellie, I'm here with some stuff for your mom" Amelia said

"Come in!" Ellis smiled

Amelia walked in and went upstairs with Meredith. Ellis didn't pay too much attention and finished packing with Bailey and Derek.

"I'm gonna check on your mom" Derek said and quickly ran upstairs

"Hey, is everything going okay here?" Derek asked

"Yeah, I just finished putting the catheter in" Amelia smiled and went to the bathroom to wash her hands

"Is it feeling okay?" Derek asked as he helped her adjusting her baggy sweatpants

"You can't see it, right?" Meredith checked

"Totally invisible" Derek assured her

"I just got paged to the hospital. I need to run, see you later!" Amelia ran out

"Bye, thanks" Meredith smiled as Amelia ran out

"Ready?" Derek asked as he helped her up

"So ready" She smiled and they walked down again. She needed some help getting downstairs but made it

"Mom, finally! Can we go now?" Bailey asked

"I just need to put on my shoes and sweater" Meredith replied

"I'll get them" Derek offered and Meredith sat down on a chair

"Here" Derek handed them to her. She was happy that he picked some slip on shoes so she didn't have to use her hands

"Thanks" She smiled and put her shoes and sweater on

"Come mom" Ellis grabbed Meredith's hand as she stood up and led her outside

"When's Zola gonna be here?" Bailey asked

"She should be here tomorrow morning. Dad's gonna get her from the airport" Meredith said

"So you're off tomorrow?" Ellis asked

"Both me and dad have the day off" Meredith smiled back

"Let's picnic here" Bailey said as he set up the blankets and food with help of Derek while Meredith and Ellis were looking at the view

Ellis' arms were wrapped around Meredith and Meredith did the same

"I love you mom" Ellis whispered

"I love you too" Meredith smiled and kissed Ellis' head

"I miss Zola a lot" Ellis told her mother

"I do too.." Meredith sighed

"I'm hungry" Ellis giggled

"Well let's see if the boys are ready" Meredith giggled

...

"Mom? Ellie? Bails?" Zola yelled as she entered the house with Derek

"Zo!" Ellie ran into Zola's arms "I missed you" She whispered

"I missed you too, little one" Zola hugged her sister close as she saw her brother walking towards them

"Hi Zo" Bailey pulled Zola into a hug

"Hi baby brother" Zola laughed

"Where's your mother?" Derek asked concerned

"I think she's still asleep. I didn't wanna wake her, she looks tired" Bailey said

"I'll go wake her. I'm sure she wants to see Zola" Derek said as he walked upstairs

Derek entered their room and saw Meredith laying in the bed in the same position as when he left. He knew she turned around a lot and knew she didn't do this a lot anymore as she was almost in constant pain, especially her hips and back

"Hey, Mer" He whispered as he sat down next to her

"Hmm" She groaned but tensed up as she winced in pain "I can't get up. Can you give me my shot first?" She whispered

"Of course" Derek had no idea what else to say and quickly grabbed the supplies "Zola's here, she's emptying her suitcase" Derek said as he placed the shot

"Oh no, I completely forgot" Meredith gasped and tried to push herself up as she groaned in pain

"Let me help" Derek offered her a hand

"I hate mornings" She whispered

"It will be better once your muscles are used to moving. Now let's get you changed so you can go see Zo" Derek said

"I can't wait to hear her stories" Meredith smiled

"We need to tell them today" Derek whispered as he helped her into the sweatpants

"I know" Meredith sighed and tries to visualise how everything will go