I'm still standing

21

"Meredith?" Nena asked as she entered the house

"I'm in here" Meredith yelled back from her spot on the couch

"Hi! Is Ellis home already?" Nena asked

"No, she must still be on her way" Meredith smiled "I'm watching a new tv show, wanna watch?" Meredith asked Nena

"Can I?" Nena asked again

"Of course. You're a part of our family, Nena. We live you" Meredith sternly said

"Okay" Nena giggled and took a seat next to Meredith "Are you sitting comfortably?"

"I am, don't worry about me" Meredith said and grabbed Nena's hand weakly in hers

Nena basically lived with Ellis and the family. It's been 6 months since Ellis introduced Nena

"Thank you so much, Meredith" Nena smiled and gently squeezed Meredith's hand

"Come here" Meredith slowly shifted a bit and pulled Nena in her embrace

Nena hugged Meredith back before they let go again and watched the show together

"Hi" Ellis smiled as she ran in

"Hey baby. How was uni?" Meredith asked with a smile

"It was great!" Ellis smiled and kissed her mother before collapsing in Nena's arms "I'm starving"

"I can make homemade lasagna?" Nena suggested

"Sounds good. Derek won't be home before 7" Meredith said "Do you need some help?"

"I got it" Nena smiled and disappeared into the kitchen

"Maybe you should ask if she wants to come with us to the cliff next week" Meredith smiled as Ellis cuddled closer to her mother

"Are you sure?" Ellis asked "Will dad agree?"

"Of course" Meredith laughed "Both me and dad love Nena" Meredith kissed Ellis' forehead

"Thanks mom" Ellis smiled

...

Meredith had been sitting on the couch for a bit while Derek was finishing doing some paperwork as she noticed Nena slipped outside

Meredith could see how the younger woman was crying on one of the chairs while she could heard the shower running so she knew Ellis would be showering

"Der?" Meredith asked

"What's wrong?" He looked up

"Can you help me outside?" Meredith asked

"Outside? It's pretty late, Mer" Derek stood up

Meredith's hand pointed at Nena sitting outside

Derek understood and nodded. He helped Meredith to out on her jacket and some shoes before helping her outside

"It's okay" Meredith smiled as she was close to the younger woman and Derek headed back inside

"Can I sit?" Meredith asked

"Oh- of course, I'm just gonna-" Nena said and stood up but Meredith awkwardly grabbed Nena's hand and pulled her back

"I think we need a chat" Meredith smiled warmly "What's wrong, Nena?"

"Nothing, I'm okay" Nena faked a smile

"Now I really wanna talk to you" Meredith squeezed Nena's hand but let go as her hands were in excruciating pain

"It's just- my parents, they- yeah.." Nena started

"Go ahead. I'm not judging you, you can tell me" Meredith warmly said

"It's just not really working out between me and my mother and the situation with my step dad.. yeah" Nena sighed "I left after another fight" Nena said

"You can stay here as long as you want, Nena. You're old enough to decide what you want but know you're always welcome here. We'll always make sure your laundry gets done, that there's food for you and that you'll have clean sheets" Meredith wrapped her arms around the young girl "You even have your own spot on the couch" She giggled a bit

"Thank you so much, Meredith" Nena smiled

"Let's get back inside, okay?" Meredith asked Nena

Nena nodded in response

Nena helped Meredith back up and the two of them walked back in

"Here you are" Ellis smiled as she ran down and kissed Nena

"We were outside for a bit" Meredith smiled and Derek helped her back to the couch where they collapsed into each other's embrace

"Movie Night?" Derek suggested

Both Nena and Ellis smiled and nodded

They were already starting their third movie. Meredith was asleep in Derek's arms as Ellis and Nena were feeding each other popcorn

Derek shifted Meredith as bit in his arms but she cried out in pain

"Oh my- I'm sorry, are you okay?" He hovered over her

"Mom?" Ellis jumped up

"Make it stop" Meredith begged as she crawled in a ball as she cried it out

"Ellie, bring me her morphine shots, please" Derek begged his daughter

Ellis nodded and ran to go get them

Derek quickly gave Meredith the injection "It's okay. It will start working soon" He said

"I can't, Derek.. I can't do this" Meredith sobbed

"Shh, mom. Give it some time" Ellis whispered and tried to hold back her tears

"Der" Meredith kept sobbing but the sobs only made it worse

Derek held her in his arms and noticed how tensed her arms and hips were, he knew she would be sore tomorrow

"Are you coming down with something?" Derek asked her concerned

Meredith didn't respond and kept sobbing Derek's arms as she cried it out in pain

"Shh, we got you" Ellis stroked her mom's hair before kissing her forehead

"S-sorry" Meredith whispered

"Oh mom-" Ellis sighed and some tears escaped her eyes

It took a while but Meredith finally seemed to relax a little

"I'm taking her to our room" Derek said against Ellis and Nena "You just needs to sleep in our bed and it will be better tomorrow" He told Meredith who nodded blankly

Ellis followed them and helped her father to tuck her mom in

"It's okay, baby" Meredith didn't want Ellis to see her this way

"Yell if any of you need us" Ellis said concerned

"It's better, baby" Meredith faked a smile

"Love you, mom" She kissed Meredith's cheek "Love you, dad" She did the same with Derek

"Goodnight baby" They said as Ellis left

"How are you really feeling?" Derek frowned

"I can't take this, Derek" Meredith whispered and closed her eyes

AN // I kinda need your opinion. I was thinking to make her situation worse and actually let her be immobile or something. What do you guys wanna see so I can take some inspiration from it or maybe use your ideas instead