Love is a game

2

"Ellie, mommy and daddy need to talk to you" Meredith said, it's been a week since they had done the tests and she had decided what would happen next

"Kay" The little girl smiled and followed them to the living room. Ellis climbed up the couch and cuddled with Poppy

"Ellie, I need surgery-" Meredith started and watched as the little girl frowned

"Surgery?" Ellis frowned

"I told you about my owies sometimes, now auntie Amy wants to try and make these owies less often" Meredith explained

"Daddy, will you help Auntie Amy?" Ellis questioned

"No honey. Amy will get help from Tom" Derek smiled as confusion grew on her tiny, cute face

"But mommy needs the best doctors. You're the best brain doctor!" Ellis gasped

"Thanks Ellis for the compliment but I assure you mommy's just fine with aunt Amy and Tom" Derek assured her

"I'm scared" Ellis whispered and climbed in her mother's lap

"I'm scared too but daddy will take care of you for a bit until I'm out if the hospital

"No! I wanna see mommy!" She looked at her dad with tears in her eyes

"I promise we'll go visit her" Derek smiled softly and his little girl instantly relaxed

...

Meredith had taken Ellis home again as Derek had a night shift. Ellis had fallen asleep in Meredith's lap as they were watching a movie together

When Meredith's phone rang she lifted Ellis off her lap, grabbed her phone and painfully walked outside and took a seat on the hammock

"Addie, hi" Meredith smiled

"Hi Mer! How are you doing?" The redhead asked

"I'm fine. How are you and Mark doing?" Meredith asked

"We're doing great! But Meredith, cut it short and tell me what's going on" Addison demanded with her stern voice

"-Leaving me to let Amelia do the surgery.." Meredith sighed as she explained everything to Addison

"Oh Mer-" Addison sighed "Me and Mark are coming over as soon as we can"

"Addie, there's really no need to-" Meredith tried to stop the redhead

"Meredith, we're coming over. Besides I wanna see my goddaughter"

"Okay.. You can stay here if you want. Alex spends a lot of nights at his girlfriend and Ellie and I are sleeping downstairs anyway" Meredith softly said

"Thanks Mer. How's Ellie doing?" Addison questioned

"She's getting so big! It's crazy" Meredith gasped

"I bet!" Addison laughed

"She was so sweet earlier with Poppy at Derek's house" Meredith giggled

"How's Derek?" Addison asked

"He's good, I think. Although I think it's time he sees someone again" Meredith quietly said

"Why?"

"I don't think he enjoys being alone.. He deserves someone to love him and give him everything he needs" Meredith said softly

"Mer, he left you! Derek and I divorced so he could be with you. Because he really loved you and then he left to work in another city and let another woman kiss him just because you were struggling after you two got married?" Addison raised her voice

"I know Addison. But he's the father of my child, my everything. So he needs to be happy" Meredith explained

"You still love him. You never stopped loving him"

"Maybe" Meredith sighed and shivered "Addie, I'll call you back some other time. I should check on Ellis" Meredith said

"Bye Mer. Say Hi to Ellie from Mark and me"

"Bye Addie!" Meredith smiled and pushed her aching body back on its feet and walked inside

Poppy came running to Meredith to check if she was okay

"Poppy, grab a bottle of water" Meredith ordered and took a seat next to her daughter on the couch

Poppy returned with a bottle of water for Meredith

"Thanks Pops" Meredith rubbed Poppy's head and grabbed the bottle. She drank a bit and put it down again when her stomach started hurting

Her fibro was causing her a bunch of bowel issues, leaving her crying on the toilet a bunch of times

Last week she had fallen asleep while doing her business. She was in so much pain but the fatigue was taking over so she rested her body against the wall to make sure she was safe

Poppy must have felt something was up with her because the dog walking in was the last thing Meredith remembered of that moment

Poppy was Meredith's saving. On bad days the dog could bring Meredith's pills, water, her bag and several other trained things. In the past Meredith had seizures due to some drugs she had to take and Poppy was always around to keep her safe. She still did this when Meredith's fatigue took over and she had to sleep in her car or in the hospital, but she could alert people if Meredith needed medical help. Poppy also helped Meredith's anxiety she was struggling with

Just like now. Meredith had fallen asleep on the couch so Poppy knew she had to watch Meredith and Ellis. Poppy's tail was wagging when Alex entered the house. The dog wanted to say hi but knew Meredith needed her so she stayed close to her, making sure she was safe

"Hi Pops. I'll take over. She's okay" Alex said and slowly woke up Meredith

"Hi" Meredith groaned as he body was aching

"Hey, I think you and Ellis should go to bed" Alex rubbed Meredith's back

"Would you mind helping out with Ellis? I don't wanna wake her" Meredith yawned

"Will it be okay to walk by yourself?" Alex asked

"I'm fine" She rolled her eyes and followed behind Alex

Alex put Ellis down in the beautiful wooden bed and cover her with the princess blanket

"I love you so so much" Meredith kneeled down to kiss her daughter and Alex helped her up as he noticed she had issues getting up by herself

Meredith mumbled a little thank you. Alex didn't blame her, he knew how independent she was, even during her pregnancy while she lived here by herself after George and Izzy died and Cristina left

When Alex moved in a year ago because she had too many issues staying by herself it had broken his heart to see her this vulnerable. To hear her crying in pain on her bad days and to see her crumble as Derek came when it was his turn to watch Ellis and she was left all by herself

Meredith pushed her body in several ways when Ellis was here, she didn't want the girl to miss out on anything

Meredith now slowly climbed into bed and watched as Poppy took her space next to the bed, looking up once more at her owner

"Night night Pops" Meredith brushed her hand through Poppy's fur one more time before she closed her eyes and sleep took over

Here you guys go, an update right before I leave to school. Let me Knox your thoughts!