What if

Chapter 25

Time jump about 2 weeks 

Derek drove to the hospital to pick up Zola, although he was still fired. He spent a lot of time with Meredith and Zola even though it was hard when Meredith wasn’t lucid. He stepped into the hospital and went straight to the daycare. "Daddy." Zola yelled as she saw her father. "Hey Baby." Derek said as he picked her up. Zola buried her face into Dereks' shoulder. "Daddy, are we going to Mommy?" Zola asked and Derek shook his head. "Uncle Jackson is with Mommy. We are going into the Zoo." Derek said and smiled as he saw how his daughters' eyes lit up. "Daddy are we going to see Lions, Monkeys, Penguins, Giraffes, Rhinos, Koalas and Pandas?" Zola rambled, Derek laughed loudly as they walked into the parking lot. "Yes and a lot more animals." Derek said smiling as he placed her into her car Seat before kissing her forehead.

Meanwhile at home

"Mer, it's me Jackie, where are you?” Jackson shouted as he entered the room. “I'm here in the kitchen I think.” Meredith replied. "Everything looks so different.." Meredith whispered as Jackson stepped into the room. "Meredith what's wrong?" He asked as he saw Meredith just staring into nothing. "Meredith hello?" Jackson shook her shoulders and Meredith flinched. Jackson pulled away immediately.  “Who are you? What are you doing here? Mommy is going to be mad at me.” Meredith whispered at the end, Jackson stood there speechless. “Meredith it's me Jackie.” Jackson whispered and Meredith looked at him confused. "Jackie?” She asked and he nodded. Meredith pulled her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in the hospital with your mommy?” “No, I grew up Meri, we grew up. We are adults.” Jackson explained while Meredith was frowning. “What do you mean we grow up? Where’s my mommy?” Meredith asked as she began to look around. “Your mom is at the hospital.” Jackson said he saw how Meredith’s eyes went wide. “Mommy left me? Why did she leave me? Am I not good enough?” Meredith began to ramble. “Meri, you are good enough. I promise, people love you Mer.” “Nobody loves me..” Meredith whispered as she looked down into her lap. “That’s not true. I love you and look here.” Jackson whispered as he pointed on her ring and pulled out her photobook. “These people in here love you very much.” “Promise?” “I promise.” Jackson began to tell Meredith some stories of their childhood. “Do you remember when you forced me to play surgeon with you?” Jackson asked laughing, Meredith was about to respond when the door opened and someone began to yell. “Jackson, are you here?” The voice Jackson recognized as Aprils asked. “In the kitchen.” He yelled back, he didn’t notice how Meredith's breathing began to speed up. “Meredith what’s wrong?” Jackson asked in concern. “Mommy don’t yell.” Meredith whispered. “Don’t yell at me mommy. I’m sorry, don’t yell.” She repeated over and over again. “Meredith, your mom is not here.” Jackson said as he squeezed her shoulder gently. Meredith ignored Jackson and began to hyperventilate. “Meredith calm down, please.” Jackson begged. “What’s wrong?” April asked as she stepped into the kitchen. “She has a flashback, she remembers her mom yelling.” Jackson explained. He then noticed that Meredith stopped talking and was staring ahead. Jackson looked up at April and sighed. April stepped over to him and pulled him into his arms. “I hate seeing her like that.” Jackson whispered as a single tear made its way down his cheek. “I know, me too.” April replied in a whisper before she softly kissed Jackson’s lips. 

Suddenly Meredith began to whimper and she tried to move out of her wheelchair, which ended with her laying on the ground. “Meredith!” Jackson exclaimed as he saw her on the ground, he kneeled down in front of her. “Want Derek..” Meredith whispered weakly. “Call Derek.” Jackson said to April as he helped Meredith back into her wheelchair. “I’m bringing her into her bedroom.” Jackson said as he wheeled her into the bedroom. Meanwhile April called Derek.

In the Zoo

"Daddy, look at the Lions." Zola exclaimed as she stood in front of the fence and looked amazed at her favorite animals. "Daddy, do you see them?" "Yes baby, I see them, aren't they amazing animals?" Derek asked as he moved behind her to steady her. Zola nodded and watched the Lions. Suddenly a woman appeared next to Derek with a little boy who looked like he was around Zolas age. "Hello." The woman said Derek turned around and nodded towards the woman before he kneeled down besides Zola. "My name is Sophie and this is my nephew Max." Sophie explained, Derek gave her a small smile. "Daddy look." Zol exclaimed as the worker from the Zoo began to feed the Lions. "That's amazing honey." Derek whispered and smiled widely at his daughter's excitement. Derek stood up once again and ignored Sophie who was still next to him. "What's your name?" She asked as she laid down her hand on his arm, Derek pulled away immediately. "My name doesn't concern you." Derek whispered harshly trying not to scare his daughter or Max. "Tell me your name." Sophie whispered once again as she moved closer to Derek. "I'm married, you don't need to know my name or anything for that matter." Derek replied as he moved further away from her but Sophie moved closer again. "I suggest you stay away from me." Derek warned. "And why's that?" Sophie asked as she leaned up. "Because I'm happily married." Derek said once again. "I don't see her here." She replied as she leaned in more. Derek grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away. "Stay away from me and my daughter. Understand it when someone says no or when they say that they are married." Derek replied sternly. "Daddy can we take pictures for Mommy?" Zola asked if she must have heard the conversation with Sophie and her dad. "Of course sweetie." Derek replied but before he took out his phone and snapped some pictures he grabbed Zola's hand and moved to another spot at the Lions fence.