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14

Flashback

"My wheelchair.." Meredith muttered as she saw the black wheelchair that Mark had wheeled in

"Do you wanna give it a try?" He asked her softly, not gonna pressure her

"Is Addie on the way with Ellis?" Meredith asked, rubbing her arms as they were sore from PT earlier

"Yes, she wanted to see her mommy's new room of course." He said as Meredith would be moved to rehab today

They had arranged that Meredith could stay in the rehab center connected to the hospital. Both share the large garden which made it possible for them to visit more often and so Meredith wouldn't have to be transported

"I don't wanna be away from her for so long." Meredith whimpered

"I promise it's just for two more weeks, until the braces can come off most of the time and the house is ready. You'll learn to do your routine here.. it will be okay." Mark assured her

"We'll take good care of Ellie, she's inspecting the new house as well." Mark explained

"New house.." Meredith took a deep breath, clear to him she was feeling guilty and scared as the house she bought with Finn had no capacity to be turned into an accessible house for Meredith. Mark and Addison had been living at Meredith's old house and they had decided to change the whole ground floor, to make Meredith and Ellis' bedrooms with a big shared bathroom, the kitchen needed to be changed, same with almost everything but they wanted their friend close and for her to feel at home

"We'll go visit as soon as the ramp is secured." Mark promised her

"Yeah.." Meredith nodded

"Mama!" Ellis' voice pulled her out of her sad thoughts

"Hey monkey, come here." Meredith opened her arms, but her legs started to spasm

"Mama!" Ellis giggled as Addison placed the girl on the bed while Meredith leaned onto her legs to make them stop moving

"Ellis-" Meredith hoped her daughter would climb closer. "Come to mama."

"Mama! I wawk!" Ellis tried to stand up

But Meredith wanted to stop her daughter so she leaned forward again to grab Ellis' hand but she fell forward, bending because her stomach muscles didn't work anymore so she was almost folded, leaning heavily on her arms to push herself up

Mark noticed how sad she looked, tears were gonna start rolling down her cheeks any minute

"So, let's go grab ice cream before we get you to rehab." He quickly said to distract her

"Ellie, come here, you can sit in mommy's lap in a minute." Addison said, seeing the girl smile as she heard this

Mark very carefully scooped up Meredith and placed her into her new wheelchair

"It's weird." She muttered as she was getting adjusted first, fixing her legs like she had learned during PT

"Mama!" Ellis babbled. "Kisses, mama!"

"Come here, bug." Meredith opened her arms

Addison placed the girl down in Meredith's lap, being careful so she wouldn't kick and unplug Meredith's catheter that was hidden underneath the baggy jogging pants she wore

Mark wrapped his arm around his wife as he saw Meredith immediately holding strong onto her daughter

"It's gonna be okay." He whispered, knowing Addison worried a lot about Meredith and Ellis

"Eventually." Addison sighed, leaning into her husband

"Who wants ice cream?" Mark asked with a smile

"Me! And mama!" Ellis giggled softly

"I'd like some as well." Addison chuckled softly and started to push Meredith's wheelchair out of the room

"Mama! -ink!" The girl giggled, pointing at Meredith's wheelchair

"I agree, you do need a pink one." Addison chuckled

"Save me from that." Meredith softly chuckled, honestly very glad her friends succeeded to make her smile about this, about the wheelchair she'd need forever

End of flashback

Meredith was still in the hospital but her fever broke so she was allowed in a regular room, which meant Ellis could come to see her

"Hey, how are you?" Bailey walked inside Meredith's room. "Hello Ellis!"

"Hi!" Little Ellis giggled

"Fine, can I finally go home?" Meredith asked

"Grey.." Bailey sighed. "You're staying here at least two more days, you needed oxygen during the night."

"I did not! That nurse thought I did." Meredith rolled her eyes

"Hush." Bailey made clear she didn't agree

"Ellie, stop jumping please." Meredith asked her daughter as it was getting too much and started to bother her back

"Come help me, I'll show you how we get the medicine ready." Bailey tried to distract the little girl that kept jumping anyway

"Come here sweetie, please." Meredith begged her daughter, almost wanting to snap as her pain started to intensify a lot

"Okay, I don't think you should jump on mommy's bed, sweetie." Bailey lifted Ellis in her arms and held her steady

"Thanks." Meredith looked down, feeling like she couldn't control her own daughter which made her feel like a failure

"Mama, I do your shot!" She giggled and helped Bailey out

"Do you need anything for your back?" Bailey asked as she saw Meredith struggling to get comfortable

"Please, but nothing that will make me extra tired. I'm watching Ellis."

"I'll get you something." Bailey eventually walked off

"Come here, do you wanna watch some tv?" Meredith suggested and Ellis crawled towards her