Love is a game

14

Meredith was back at work. She was reading patient charts while Poppy laid down next to her on the floor

Meredith was studying a case of a 32 year old woman that's been having cancer in her kidneys but it has spread everywhere in her stomach. Meredith didn't wanna give up on the woman and desperately wanted to find a way to help her

"Pops.. What are we gonna do?" Meredith sighed and pushed herself on her feet. She slowly made her way over to the small coffee machine that was in the corner of her office. She took a cup out of the cabinet and filled the cup. She grabbed the cup and walked back to her desk where she collapsed back in the chair when someone knocked on the door

"Yes?"

"Mer!" Alex walked in "These was a huge line at the coffee stand so I'm gonna steal some of yours" Alex walked inside and filled his cup

"You are unbelievable" Meredith laughed

"Hey!" He laughed, "Wanna grab lunch together?" He asked as he took a seat on the opposite chair of Alex

"I'd like that" Meredith smiled "Can we take Ellis with us? She's in daycare"

"Of course, I'd like to spend time with my niece" Alex smiled

"I think Pop wants to go for a small walk" Meredith laughed, drank her coffee and stood up to go downstairs

"Let's go Poppy, go see your sister" Alex laughed and led Meredith and Poppy out of the door and started the walk towards daycare

As Meredith approached the daycare she saw the nurse already smiling and returned with Ellis

"Mommy!" Ellis giggled and went over to hug her mother

"Hi baby" Meredith smiled "Do you wanna have some lunch after we let out Poppy?"

"Yes!" Ellis smiled and led the way outside of the hospital

They went for a small walk until Poppy had done what had to be done

"Okay girls, what would you like to have?" Alex asked

"Spaghetti!" Both Meredith and Ellis smiled

"Of course!" He laughed

"Thanks" Meredith smiled and went over to the corner of the cafeteria with Poppy and Ellis

"Sit next to me, mommy" Ellis smiled as she took a seat

Meredith slowly lowered herself until she sat down on the chair, Poppy laying down next to her

"Did you enjoy daycare?" Meredith asked Ellis

"I did! Mommy, can you do my pigtails again?" Ellis frowned as her hair was slightly falling apart

Meredith nodded even though panic started taking over internally. She had always loved doing Ellis' hair but today her hands were slightly weak. She carefully redid Ellis' hair and smiled as she finally succeeded

"Perfect!" Ellis had a huge smile on her face "Thank you mommy" She smiled

"Of course, sweet heart" Meredith kissed Ellis' head and they waited until Alex returned with their food

"Here you girls go" Alex smiled and put the plates in front of them "Do you need help cutting it?"

"It will be okay" She didn't wanna give in. She started cutting Ellis' spaghetti before moving to her own and twirling the pasta around her fork and taking a bite

Ellis was eating her spaghetti in silence as the two adults were talking

"So you think Bailey would wanna take this case?" Meredith questioned

"I'm pretty sure Miranda would love to" Alex nodded his head

"Hmm.. I'll have to ask her" Meredith yawned

"Are you tired?" Alex softly asked her

"A bit, yeah" She breathed

"Go find Bailey after lunch and go talk to her about that surgery and afterwards I can drop you two off at home" Alex suggested

"I don't know. I can't keep leaving early" Meredith sighed and started getting lost in her own thoughts

"Mer, everyone understands. Why don't you take your stuff home and you can work from there" Alex softly suggested

"I guess that will be best" Meredith sadly said

"Now finish your lunch" Alex squeezed her hand

...

"Bye uncle Alex!" Ellis waved

"See you tonight! Take care of mommy!" He waved as he drove away

Alex had dropped off Meredith, Poppy and Ellis. He had already helped Meredith carry her stuff inside and was now back on his way to the hospital for a surgery

"Ellis, what do you wanna do now?" Meredith asked as she opened her laptop

"Can I play?" She looked at her mother

"Of course, honey. Yell if you need me" Meredith smiled and opened the file again of the 32 year woman with cancer from earlier today

Time passed by as Meredith was looking up some stuff. She had been calling with bailey for half an hour already as they were discussing a way to treat the woman

"Grey, you're a genius!" Bailey gasped "I'm calling now to let everyone know about the surgery tomorrow morning. I hope Derek's free, otherwise we'll ask Nelson. Amelia already has a surgery. Do you wanna attend?"

"Bailey-" Meredith wanted to protest but Bailey already interrupted her

"Come on Grey. You don't have to cut but at least see how it will go" Miranda tried

"I'll see" Meredith replied and hung up the phone. She turned her gaze towards Poppy who was playing with a stuffed animal "We did it, Pops" Meredith smiled "We did it. I didn't lose my skills" She let go of a sigh she didn't even know she was holding

"Mommy!" Ellis ran in the room

"Hi monkey" Meredith smiled

"Can I let Poppy out?" Ellis asked

"Of course. Pops isn't working so you can go ahead" Meredith smiled "But put on a jacket, honey"

"Okay!" Ellis grabbed her green jacket, put it on and opened the back door

Meredith watched as she called out for Poppy and the two were playing outside. Those two were the most important in her life, she couldn't imagine doing this without them