Home

18

Flashback

Mark was on his way to pick up Meredith, they'd go home together. Addison, Ellis, Christopher and Carolyn were waiting at the house for them to arrive

But when Mark entered Meredith's room she was still in bed, almost crying her eyes out

"Hey, what's wrong? You're going home.." Mark walked up to her, sitting down on the bed next to her

"What if I can't do it? What if Ellie gets hurt because of me?" Meredith whimpered, a panic attack was starting

"We're here to help, but you won't do anything wrong. That girl loves you so, so much." Mark didn't understand why she was suddenly so scared and anxious

"What if I let her down? What if she grows up and hates me? What if Finn would hate me because of the way I raise Ellie-" Meredith stopped and went quiet as she closed her eyes, Mark hugging her close against his chest

"Slow down, Ellis will never hate you, nor would Finn. Let's just go home and you'll see how happy Ellis is to see you again. She missed you so, so much."

Mark wheeled Meredith's wheelchair up to the bed and helped her in, he knew she had to work on her independence but she needed to go home, to be distracted from these dark and sad thoughts

"Let's go home. I promise it'll be okay." He kissed the top of her head softly and took her home, all the other doctors and nurses had collected, they all wanted to show they were here for Meredith

Meredith kept strong, only breaking when they were in the car, she really realized she was going home on her own, she's never come home to her house where Finn was waiting for her, not like this and not on her own

End of flashback

Meredith kept turning during the night, she wasn't comfortable at all. But suddenly the door opened

"You're still awake." Mark whispered

"Hmm.." Meredith nodded

"Do I need to carry you to your own bed?" Mark asked quietly

"No." Meredith said, despite her whole body was screaming in discomfort

Mark nodded and bent down. He fixed the pillows underneath her knees and tucked her in.

"Thank you." Meredith whispered, her eyes finally fluttering a bit as the pain in her back slowly got better

"Night night. Text me if you need me." He said softly and left the room

...

"Mama! Mama!" Ellis jumped up and down. Meredith had finally fallen asleep a little less than two hours ago

"Morning monkey." Meredith said, feeling exhausted

"Mama, gots to have pancakes!" Ellis giggled

"In a bit, how did you sleep?" Meredith asked, trying to calm her daughter down as she was extremely tired

"My bed is -mazing!" Ellis giggled and jumped up again, running out of the room

"Mer? Are you okay?" Addison entered the room

"Sure.." Meredith nodded and pushed herself up, not wanting to show her 'weak' side. "I'll be there in a minute." She said and got in her wheelchair, going to the toilet to empty her catheter bag

Addison was keeping Ellis entertained in the kitchen while Derek was cooking them breakfast

"She's taking a long time.." Mark said as he was just really worried

"She's fine, Mark." Addison squeezed his had as Derek started serving Ellis' pancakes the way she had begged

Suddenly the door opened and Meredith wheeled towards them, wheeling up to her usual spot

"Do you want some coffee?" Addison offered

"Yes please." Meredith nodded, the dark bags underneath her eyes were proof she had barely slept, not to mention the sound of her leg moving up and down before she leaned on it to make it stop

"Here you go." Addison placed a cup down

"Do you want chocolate chip pancakes as well?" Derek asked Meredith

"Yeah, sounds good. Thank you." Meredith nodded, sipping her coffee and hoping the caffeine will kick in soon

"Mama, we gonna see daddy today?" Ellis asked

"I don't know yet, sweetie. We'll see." Meredith took a shaky breath

"I thought we'd go swim, as we always do." Addison said, distracting Ellis

"Yes! Momma gots to -cise!"

"Did you hear, Grey?" Mark chuckled. "You gotta exercise

"Yeah.. We should go swimming." Meredith nodded

"I got surgery, I can't come." Mark said

"Excuses." Addison chuckled. "We'll go on our own then."

Meredith wasn't sure if she'd make it on her own today and started to visibly worry

"I'd like to come if that's okay for you." Derek suggested, he loved swimming

"Yes Dewek!" Ellis giggled loudly

"Deal." Derek smiled and served Meredith's pancakes

"Thanks." Meredith smiled and started digging in

A while later they were getting ready to leave to the pool.