Had I known How to Save a Life

The End Of The Beginning

Chapter 61
*Meredith POV*

What determines the end of a journey? How do you know when you actually have crossed the finish line or reached the top of the mountain. Is it when you've jumped through the first hurdle? Or when you literally have nothing left in you to keep on going? Problem is, when we've given it everything and we don't know how much more we can take, it's usually just the end of the beginning.

Derek and I have the same patient today. 32 year old woman, stage 3 metastatic melanoma. Similar to what Izzie had...actually just like it. Her name is Elizabeth.

She's been fighting this cancer for a long time now. We caught it around stage 2 but it still wasn't early enough to avoid future complications. She has a tumor in her frontal lobe. And mets around her liver. In the best case scenario, Derek's surgery will go fine and then it's time for the liver.

*Jo POV*

"So the hard part is over right?" I ask even though I know the answer is no.

"Oh, honey you're going to be a mom, this is just the end of the beginning." Arizona begins to say.

I think she sees my confused look, "This was your first. Your first hurdle, your first hill. With this pregnancy there should be no more problems but down the road when your daughter is here and in your arms; that's a whole other story, this was just the beginning. But when you get to hold her in your arms for the first time, it's all worth it." Arizona tells me.

I'm about to get discharged finally, but I can't come back to work for another week or so. Alex comes to see me before he goes into surgery with Callie and Owen. "I probably won't get off until later tonight but I talked to Edwards, she's going to drive you home so you don't have to sit here all day."

Now it's just waiting to get discharged..waiting, and well even more waiting. I begin to fall asleep but I keep feeling this little fluttering coming from my belly. Most people would get annoyed by it but knowing she's moving around in there is soothing almost.

When I finally do fall asleep, I wake up to a whisper and a light knock at the door. It's April with her daughter!! "Hey we heard about everything, how are you feeling?" She says.

"I'm feeling great, a little sore but it's nothing. She is kicking like a soccer player so she's doing good too." I tell April.

"You're having a girl??" April asks me excitedly.

"Oh yeah, we found out the same day we found out about the amniotic bands." I say.

"Anyway, how have you been doing? We haven't seen you around here in forever," I ask her.

"We've been doing amazing. Allison and James get along so well, it's just beautiful. The first few nights they were like little angels sleeping through the night...now they're like hellions but it's just...oh my gosh it's so precious." April gushes. I ask her if I could hold Allison and she picks her up out of the stroller.

"Hi Allison!!" I say as I begin to hold her.

"She's beautiful, April!" I tell her. I can't wait till the moment I get to hold my own daughter in my arms. She wakes up and I see this big bright smile and an infectious laugh.

April leaves a little later to go home with Jackson and James. They are supposed to be coming back to work in 2 weeks I think.