Love is a game

17

"Okay munchkin, dinner's ready. I'm gonna go get your mom" Derek told Ellis

"Okay daddy" Ellis nodded

Derek walked towards the living room. Meredith had decided to lay down for another small nap as she felt completely exhausted. Poppy was trotting around in the garden which caused Derek to smile

"Mer, dinner's ready" He woke her up

"Oh- Okay" She nodded "Poppy!" She yelled and the dog ran towards her so she clipped on the leash and let the dog help her stand up

"I guess I'll go then. I'm just gonna say goodbye to Ellie" Derek grabbed his stuff

"You can join us for dinner if you want? I mean- You put all this work into the food and I don't eat that much so it would be a waste-" Meredith started to ramble

"Are you sure?" He asked with a smile on his lips

"Yeah. I'd like that" Meredith quietly said and walked into the kitchen

"Mommy, look what daddy made!" Ellis smiled

"Oh that looks good!" Meredith smiled and took a seat

Derek put food on everyone's plate and was shocked as he saw how much her appetite had decreased, she used to enjoy lots and lots of pizza and other greasy food and now the plate was filled as much as Ellis'

"Thanks Derek for cooking, it's really good" She nodded

"I'm glad you like it. Is it good Ellie?" He turned his head towards his daughter

"I love mac and cheese!" Ellis giggled

"I know you do" Derek winked

"So so good" Ellis giggled and continued eating until her plate was empty, then grabbing a tiny bit more of the mac and cheese

Once they were done Meredith pushed herself on her feet and grabbed the first plate, Ellis immediately opening the dishwasher and helping her mother with loading in the dishes

Derek wanted to stop her and take over but he didn't want to make her feel as if she couldn't cope on her own.

"Can I give Poppy her food in the meantime?" Derek asked

"I got it, no worries" Meredith smiled and walked towards the box where she kept the dog food, filling Poppy's bowl "Here you go, Pops"

"Mommy, are we going to watch a movie?" Ellis asked

"Of course, sweetheart. I'm gonna go grab my cane, I'll be right back" Meredith smiled. She used her cane in the evening so Poppy could do whatever a dog was supposed to do

In the meantime Derek had put on his jacket and collected his keys, ready to say his goodbyes when Meredith returned but instead he heard a loud noise, Ellis immediately running towards her mother's room

"Mommy!" He heard the little girl gasp

"It's okay" He heard Meredith reply but her voice was full of sadness and pain. Maybe even shame. It wasn't the first time that her daughter had found her after she had taken a fall

"Meredith!" He gasped, seeing her laying down on the floor and then Poppy ran in, immediately running up to Meredith

"Pop, it's okay" Meredith tried to calm the dog down

"Can I lift you?" Derek asked

"Please" Meredith nodded, her voice cracking

"1, 2, 3" Derek announced and lifted her up, placing her in the bed and covering her with blankets "Are you okay like this?"

"I am" She nodded "Ellie, is it okay if we watch the movie here?" She asked as she rubbed her daughter's back softly

"That's kay mommy" Ellis smiled and climbed up the bed as Meredith adjusted the headrest so she'd sit up a bit more "Can Poppy lay on the bed?" She giggled

"Okay, for once" Meredith winked and weakly patted the bed, Poppy jumping on it "Thanks Derek" She didn't dare to look into his eyes

"No worries. I- You can call me if something's up. I mean I trust you but I just wanna help out" He quietly said as he tucked her in and caught her as she leaned into his touch

"I'm sorry" Meredith whispered and composed herself "I'll call when I need you. Thanks for today" She nodded

"No worries. Ellie, night night" Derek kissed Ellis' head

"Night daddy" Ellis giggled

"Night night, Mer" He smiled

"Night Der" She smiled back and wrapped her arms tighter around her daughter

"I liked tonight a lot" Ellis whispered once her dad had left the house

"I'm glad you liked it, baby" Meredith smiled and closed her eyes as she felt her headache slowly getting worse

Flashback

"Meredith, accept help, please!" Derek yelled

"Derek, I'm her mother!" Meredith cried and felt Alex' arms wrapping around her

"You! Wait here!" He yelled at Derek and helped Meredith back inside, Poppy was very protective of Meredith

It took a bit before Alex walked back outside towards Derek. He had made sure Meredith was calm first by telling her about Ellis that was asleep

"I'm sorry. I just- I can't see her suffer!" Derek got angry again

"Getting angry won't solve a thing. Be here for her and otherwise keep your mouth shut."

End of flashback

Derek knew he shouldn't have left. He turned his car around and drove back to Meredith's house. He decided to call her phone number

"Derek?" He heard her soft voice

"Did I call you awake?" Derek asked, honestly concerned about her

"It's okay," She breathed. "Is something wrong?"

"Mer, is it okay if I stay the night-" Derek started but got interrupted

"Derek-" She sighed

"No, let me talk. Please. It's not that I don't trust you, I just- I miss you. I miss you so much" He sighed

"Derek, I don't know. I don't wanna give Ellis false hope that we're getting together" Meredith sighed

"Can I just come back? I'm on your porch but I can leave-"

"It's okay, you can come. Ellis is still awake, maybe you two can watch a movie" Meredith suggested

"Thanks" Derek said and hung up the phone

He walked back inside the house and locked the door. He thought for a minute before knocking on Meredith's bedroom

"Daddy!" He heard Ellis giggle

"Hi monkey. What movie are we watching?" He smiled

"Frozen!" Ellis giggled

"Of course" He smiled and took a seat on a chair

"It's okay, you can lay down next to her" Meredith softly said so he nodded and climbed in on the other side of the bed "Here, you can adjust the headrests. One of the perks about all of this" Meredith showed him the controller of his side of the bed

"I think I understand" He chuckled and made sure he was comfortable, enjoying having his daughter and Meredith with him. And then reality hit him

They never had been together like this and secretly both of them would do anything to make this their daily life, he loved listening to her snoring, he loved having her next to him even if so many things have changed