I'd do anything for love (3/4)

20

Derek heard the front door opening, his two girls immediately ran inside towards the couch

Derek lifted his finger in front of his mouth to alert them to be quiet

"Hey munchkins" He smiled softly

"Daddy!" They giggled and flew in his arms "Can we give mommy a kiss?" Ava asked

"Of course" Derek said and he saw Addison walking inside, closely followed by his parents who all gave him a sad smile

"Hey Derek" His mother came over first. She softly rubbed his back after saying hello

"Hi mom. Thanks for coming" Derek breathed

"Of course, Derek" Carolyn pulled him in for a hug "Hi Meredith" She softly whispered and kissed the younger woman's forehead

"Hi mom" Meredith breathed a bit heavy

"Hey sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Carolyn asked softly as Derek went over to the girls

"Don't know" Meredith sighed. She didn't wanna admit how awful she felt but also knew they wouldn't take her 'okay or fine'

"Oh sweetie" Carolyn softly rubbed Meredith's upper arm

"The girls?" She asked quietly

"Derek is helping them taking off their coats and shoes"

"Wanna see them" She mumbled and tried to push herself up

"Wait a minute" Carolyn laughed softly "So stubborn" She said as she helped Meredith sit up

Meredith's head started spinning from the second she sat up, glad Carolyn was supporting her because she was sure she'd fall over the second her mom would let go of her

"Shh, easy" Carolyn held Meredith "Your girls will be here in a minute. Focus on breathing" Carolyn whispered

"It's- It's okay" Meredith nodded softly as she composed herself

"Look who's here" Addison smiled as she walked towards Meredith with the two girls

"Hi mommy!" The two girls giggled

"Hi babies" Meredith breathed "Come here" She smiled

"Nana, help" Emma asked as she couldn't climb on the couch

Meredith desperately wanted to reach out but just had no strength

"Here you go" Carolyn lifted the little girl and placed her in Meredith's lap

The two girls were surrounding Meredith and cuddling close into their mom

"We missed you, mommy" Ava kissed Meredith's very softly

"I missed you too" Meredith wrapped her arms around her girls but completely lost her balance but Addison and Carolyn could keep her steady

"Why don't you lay down a bit, together with mommy" Addison suggested ans helped them lay down again

"Mommy loves you" Meredith whispered as she closed her eyes

"They'll rest, just leave them" Carolyn rubbed Addison's back softly as she noticed the redhead started crying

"I'm sorry" Addison excused herself

"Addie-" Derek grabbed her wrist, making sure she couldn't walk out

"It hurts to see her this way" Addison forced out "And why am I doing this to you? It's your wife" She spat out as she leaned her head against the wall

"It hurts all of us, dear. That's okay because we all love her" Carolyn softly rubbed Addison's back

"Hey, come here" Derek pulled her in for a hug and noticed his dad pulled in his mom for one as well

"Sorry" Addison apologized again

...

"And uncle Mark showed us our new room!" Ava told Meredith

"Did he?" Meredith was fighting to stay awake, her youngest daughter tightly wrapped in her arms

"It's beautiful!"" Emma added with a big smile

"Aunt Addie, can we show mommy soon?" Ava asked with big eyes

"Of course girls but not yet, okay? When mommy's feeling a bit better" Addison smiled softly

"But when's that?" Ava frowned but none of the adults could really reply. Meredith was terminal, meaning they didn't think she would get better

"We'll go soon" Meredith whispered

"That's nice" Emma breathed and cuddled closer into her mom

"Mommy, can we show you the dance uncle Mark showed us?" Ava giggled

"Of course" Meredith weakly replied

"Well girls, why don't we change into a nice costume to give a whole performance?" Addison suggested, noticing Meredith desperately needed a nap

"Yes!!" The two girls jumped up and ran upstairs

Derek opened his mouth but before he could say but she was already asleep

"She was out quickly" Christopher sighed

"I can't see her do this to herself" Derek shook his head

"She's scared, Derek. But our little girl will survive. I'm sure" Christopher said sternly

...

The girls had returned after a while and Meredith woke up because of their giggles

She was pushing herself to watch their performance and to be excited afterwards

"Go girls" She cheered but her body gave it away. The pain, the exhaustion, the results of the medication.. Her body drooped, her skin pale, her eyes red and puffy. Oh god how badly he wanted to help her

She was sitting in between his legs, her upper body leaning against his

"You did amazing" Meredith smiled weakly as the girls finished their tiny performance

"Come on girls, let's get back in pajamas" Addison suggested and took the girls upstairs to their room. Carolyn and Christopher walked off to the kitchen as they knew Derek wanted to talk to Meredith. They all had noticed how he was behaving towards her, how scared he was

"Mer, stop acting as if nothing is going on" Derek begged

"They deserve a normal childhood" Meredith sighed and closed her eyes

"They have a normal childhood!" Derek turned a bit so he'd look her into the eyes

"They don't! I'm constantly in the hospital, they have been spending so many time with everyone else except for us-" Meredith started to raise her voice "They worry about 'mommy being sick' instead of the toys they don't get from us" Meredith started

"Mer, they're happy. They are stable, they know what love means" Derek argued back

"But t-they-" Meredith's breathing became heavier which caused Derek to frown slightly "They might.. not know-" Meredith's hand moved to her chest "Who I am, what it means to have a mom" She finished, clearly she even was dizzy

"Mer, you hear me?" Derek snapped his fingers in front of her eyes "Mer?" Derek asked concerned

"D-Der" She forced out, barely awake

"Don't talk. It's okay" Derek kissed her forehead "Mom!"

It only took a few seconds for Carolyn to walk inside the room, a frown immediately on her face as she saw Meredith

"Call Mark, tell him to bring an oxygen tank, nasal cannula and an oxygen mask" Derek said firmly and focussed back on his wife