I'm still standing

43

Derek and Meredith were laying down in the garden in the furniture Derek had bought her earlier. It was a huge bed which covered them from the sun. It was a nice day in Seattle, Derek had covered themselves with a bunch of blankets to keep Meredith warm so she wouldn't get sick again. Her IV with antibiotics hung up next to the bed and she was laying in his arms as they were looking at the sky

"I'll miss you" Derek whispered "I will always miss you"

"D-Der, you'll be f-fine" She tried to look at him but could barely move her neck an inch

"I'll never be fine without you, Meredith but it will be okay. I need to be here for the kids" He forced out as sobs overtook him

"T-The kids will be here f-for you too" She softly smiled "and when y-you're 110, I'll b-be waiting for y-you"

"I hate saying goodbye to you" Derek whispered

"S-Sorry" She started to apologise

"Don't-" Derek whispered and cupped her face in his hand "I love you"

"I-I love you t-too" Meredith whispered

...

"Hey Zo" Ellis embraced her sister

"Hi. How is she doing?" Zola asked as she carried her daughter on her hip

"Nana!" The little girl yelled "Papa!"

"We're gonna see nana and papa in a bit, honey" Zola tickled the little girl "Let's go see your niece and nephews"

"Bailey is in the playroom with Luke" Ellis smiled

"I'll come with you" Nena offered

"How is she doing?" Ellis asked Zola's husband

"If she's looking at it like a doctor, she seems to deal okay with it but it's still her mom. She hasn't broke down yet but I expect it every moment" Jeff sighed

"We'll all need to be here for each other" Ellis smiled sadly as she looked at her parents outside

...

"Nana, -ook!" Riley showed her new toys to Meredith who was sitting on the couch in between Derek's legs

"W-Wow Riley! S-Such a beautiful u-unicorn" Meredith smiled

"You!" Riley wanted to hand Meredith the toy but she couldn't lift her arm to take it and even if she could lift it, there was no way she could hold it in her hands

"H-Honey, it's yours" Meredith forced a smile

"Nana!" Riley repeated again and stretched out her arm again

"Thank you honey" Derek grabbed the unicorn and placed it on Meredith's lap

"Wuv Papa, wuf Nana" Riley hugged her grandparents

"We love you too little one" Derek smiled and grabbed Meredith's hand so she could stroke Riley's cheek

"L-Love you b-baby" Meredith smiled softly

"Mama!" Riley climbed down from the couch and ran to Zola

"Hey baby" Zola lifted Riley up in her arms "Did you enjoy playing with Nana and Papa?"

"Ya!" Riley giggled

"Riwey!" Luke ran toward them

"-uke!" Riley giggled

"Pway with me?" Luke reached for Riley's hand

"Ya!" Riley ran after Luke

"I'm going with them" Jeff offered

Bailey walked in with Archie in his arms "Ellis, Nena, you two did an amazing job" He smiled "He loves uncle Bailey"

"Mom, do you wanna take Edith?" Zola asked as Ellis was yelling her name

Derek nodded and placed a pillow in her lap before Zola placed the baby in her arms

"H-Hi sweetie" Meredith smiled at her granddaughter

Meanwhile Ellis and Zola were busy in the kitchen

"She looks so much like mom" Zola smiled as she was referring to Ellis' and Nena's daughter

"She does" Ellis smiled at the thought of it "I hope she'll grow up and be a mini mom"

"Those babies have mom's strength already" Zola pulled her sister into a close hug

"Ellis!" They heard their dad yell and went into the living room

Edith was firmly holding Meredith's finger and for what felt as the first time in a very long time, Meredith's fingers relaxed again

"Look" Derek smiled as his daughters were walking towards them

"Mom" Ellis smiled and watched her mother share that smile

"S-She's a good p-physical therapist" Meredith giggled

"She for sure is" Derek smiled as he placed his hand on top of Meredith and Edith's "I love the two of you so much" Derek whispered as some tears escaped his eyes

"C-Can you take her again?" Meredith asked as her arm started trembling slightly

"She's due for her meds" Derek grabbed her arms to keep them still as Ellis carried Edith on her chest

"I'll grab them" Bailey offered

Meredith's shoulders and head started jerking a bit as Derek tried to keep her still as she whimpered in pain

"Mom, are you okay?" Zola asked as she supported her mom's head

"O-Okay" Meredith forced out in between her painful sobs

"It's okay. Sit still mom" Bailey rubbed his mom's arm before injecting her meds

"Thanks Bailey" Derek thanked his son as his arms were wrapped protectively around Meredith "I'm gonna bring her to bed"

"Do you want me to help?" Bailey asked, he knew his dad was getting older too

"It's okay" Derek softly smiled and scooped up Meredith into his arms

"S-Sorry" Meredith murmured as Derek walked out the living room

"Why?" Derek frowned as he placed her down in the bed

"R-Ruining the mood. I-It was really nice to have e-everyone over" Meredith softly said

"You didn't ruin the mood. You just need a little nap and then we can go back" Derek kissed Meredith's forehead