A Healing Heart

Chapter 36

"Daddy is the plane going to fly high when we go to Sewattle?" Ellyse asked as she 'helped' Derek pack suitcases, it was more of her jumping on the bed as her dad wrestled with the clothing she kept throwing at him.

He chuckled at her question, "it does go very high and very fast, but you can't feel it moving. Are you excited?"

"I guess so. Mommy says that she doesn't like when the plane is in the sky."

"That's right, your mom hates flying but I think you'll like it."

"And daddy can give me cuddles if I don't." she gigged and she jumped onto her bottom on the bed.

"I sure will monkey, but I think you'll be the one giving mommy cuddles." he said as he grabbed her as she jumped up, tickling her.

"Mommy said I get to sleep on the plane because it takes long." she said as she caught her breath back from laughing.

"You sure can, and if you see we'll get there quicker!" he smiled.

"The plane goes faster when people sleep?" she gasped.

"Sure." he laughed.

They had decided to move to Seattle pretty quickly thinking it would be an easier move for Ellyse than if they left it for later and she had to leave more friends at school. Another big move in their relationship was that they had bought a house rather than another apartment; they were a strong couple and it could be said with a bout of confidence that they would be together forever so it seemed like the best idea for them all to be together as a family permanently. Whilst Derek was at home with Ellyse, Meredith was working her final shift at Mount Sinai, they didn't move for another 5 days but she wanted to be able to spend some time just the three of them before they left New York.

It was a scary thought for Meredith when she thought about going home, New York was where Ellyse was born and the only place she'd knew as home, it was where she met her best friends and started her career, it was the place she'd spent sleepless nights alone watching a nightlight with a crying baby but it was also the place that took pieces of her and the place she'd ran to in her state of vulnerability and as many good memories as she had here, she couldn't say she'd miss it, the only thing she'd miss would be Ellyse's small yankee accent - which she'd get to hold onto until she lost it. She was excited at the thought of being close to both her and Derek's family and she couldn't wait for Ellyse to share some of the same childhood memories both her and her dad held in Seattle.

They had been packing the apartment up the past few days and everything but the basics they needed to live on daily were packed and ready to go, they still had some boxes to bring over from Derek's old apartment but nothing that would take them too long.

"Is our new house close to gg?" Ellyse asked as she sat crossed legged next to Derek.

"It's not too far away, closer to grandma shepherd." He smiled, "gg lives very close to the hospital."

"Do we?"

"No, no we don't. But we do live close to your new school and I'm sure your new school friends will live nearby too."

She nodded her head and went back to playing with her dolls letting Derek finish packing. After a short while and he had packed the majority of their things he went down to make dinner knowing that Meredith was finishing at 5 today, he decided he would have her dinner ready for her. Ellyse decided to help him before she got bored and snook off to watch her iPad on the sofa.

***
As soon as she stepped through her apartment door she could smell pasta, her favourite to be specific, Chicken parmesan along with the smell of garlic. She smiled as the took of her shoes after a long day and walked to the kitchen.

"Hey." She wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Hey you. How was your day?" He asked and he kissed her cheek.

"Busy. What are you making." She asked with a knowing smirk.

"Your favourite." He chuckled, "it'll be ready in 5 minutes, Ells on the sofa."

"She is? I didn't even see her, I thought she was upstairs." She giggled and walked towards the living room.

Hearing Meredith's chuckle he followed her in to see what she was laughing at, seeing Ellyse had fallen asleep with her legs hanging over the arm of the sofa.

"She must have been tired, she's talked my legs off all day." Derek smiled.

"She's excited about the move which is good, I thought she'd be unsettled about it."

"I don't think we have to worry about that. I can't wait to take her everywhere we went as kids like the aquarium and museums."

"Me too Der. Shall I wake her for dinner?" Meredith asked.

"Yeah." He kissed her again before going back to the kitchen to plate up their dinner.

"Ells, wake up princess." Meredith soothed as the stroked her daughters head.

"Mommy." She said as she woke up, she sat up and threw herself into Meredith's hug.

"Hi baby."

"I missed you mommy."

"I missed you more, are you tired?" She asked.

"Mhm." Ellyse nodded her head into her neck.

"Daddy's made dinner and maybe I have dessert too. But if you're too tired for dessert then..." she teased her.

"No mommy! No I'm not." Ellyse laughed as she perked up.

"Good. I didn't think you would be. Come on." She held her and as they went to sit at the table.

"Mm, this is yummy daddy!" Ellyse said as she ate her meal. It was her first time trying chicken parmesan with pasta.

"This is mommy's favourite." Derek told her.

"Mommy has good taste." Ellyse looked towards Meredith.

"It's good right? Daddy says it's boring." Meredith rolled her eyes jokingly at her daughter.

"Daddy is boring." Ellyse said making Meredith choke on her pasta laughing and Derek feigned hurt.

Derek looked at Meredith as she laughed and Ellyse blushed slightly at the adults laughing at her comment.

"Sorry daddy." She laughed slurping up her spaghetti.

***
Only a pretty short chapter & I promise I haven't forgotten about this book!