Meredith's POV

It has almost been a year since Derek has passed away and I still cannot believe it. I missed him so much. It is going to be better, but it will never be the same again. His side of the bed will always be empty and cold. He will never meet Ellis. He will never play soccer with Bailey. He will never walk Zola down the aisle or Ellis when they are getting married. He will never be there at their first day in school or when they graduate from college. He would miss all that. He has broken his promises and I have broken mine. I should have waited but instead of what I had promised I pulled the plug and took the chance from his sisters, his mother, his friends, our children, his nieces and nephews from saying goodbye to Derek. I just took that chance from everyone. I never gave him the chance for a miracle. I have just let him go. I just pulled the plug. I felt so guilty because of all this. If I wouldn´t have the kids, I wouldn't be here anymore. The kids are my one and only. They are my hope, my chance, my support, my future. They are everything what I have left of Derek and that is the reason why I will always love and support them. I would even give my life for theirs, if it would be necessary.

"Mommy, when are we finally going to be home?" asked me Zola totally impatient and pulled me out of my daydreaming. Since I promised her for a princess tea party tonight she was in a fluster and asked me every few minutes when we will arrive home.

"The ferry boat is already at the dock and in ten minutes we will be at home, Sweety." I tell her. She was satisfied with my answer and looked again outside of the window. She was such a nice, little girl and although she didn't really understand why her father was gone and where he went to she knew that he would never come back. Since Derek passed away she secluded herself and got a little bit shy. She played less often with Sofia and the other kids from the nursery. She really missed her Dad and she couldn't really deal with Derek's loss.

A loud noise was heard which was the sign that the ferry boat has arrived pulled me one more time out of my daydream. I started the motor and pulled slowly away. A few minutes later we have left the ferry and another ten minutes later we arrived at home.

At home, there was a foreign car parked in the driveway. I immediately had a strange feeling, but I suppressed it. I just couldn't bear more catastrophes or things like that. It was just too much. I stuck to the idea that it was a friend of Amelia or just someone who took the wrong road.

I parked the car at the side and as soon as I turned off the engine, Zola unlocked her car seat, eager to get off the car. She pushed me also to get off the car. She just couldn't wait any longer to have another tea party, although it wouldn't be no more like it was in the past.

I got off the car and withdrew Bailey and Ellis, when a man turned the corner and said, "Excuse me, but this is a private property. You cannot park your car here." I couldn't believe what this man had just said. Of course, this is a private property. It is my private property. All this was just a bad joke. "I know this is a private property." I said as calm as I was able to. Zola was standing next to me and pulled me by my coat.

"Then you won't have any problems with taking your kids and driving away." the man said a little bit impolite.

A woman came and asked, "Do you have all the documents? My husband and I would like to sell the house as soon as possible." I couldn't believe my ears again. This stupid woman wanted to sell my house, my house.

"Who are you?" I asked her. "And why would you like to sell my house?" I continued asking her questions.

"You must be the woman who is living in my husband's house without paying any rents." she said to me.

"Why should I sell my house? Could someone tell me what is going on here?" I asked obviously upset. I didn't felt like playing pretend now. I took my kids and went to the front door. The woman and the man just let me go past them and to the entrance. I just opened the front door when two other men turned the corner. They came into my direction. It seemed like they were talking about the shape of the house. The voice of this one man was just so similar to me, he gave me a chill. I would recognise this voice everywhere although I didn't hear him for almost a year. I shook my head and said to myself, "This can never ever be him. You are getting crazy.". Thankfully, none of them had recognised me because they were standing with their backs to me and because they were deep in conversation. Zola and Bailey already went into the house. It was just Ellis and I that were still outside.

"Mummy, hurry up!", Zola said totally impatient.

"I will be right there, Zozo." I answered. The men heard us talking and turned around. I froze. He looked directly at me. I dropped my keys with shock. Derek was alive. He was standing in front of me. I would recognise his face everywhere.

Thousand thoughts bustled around my head. I was totally numbed. Derek was alive although this was impossible because I stabled the life supported measures after he was declared as brain death. Amelia always reproached me because of this. She believes she could have saved him. That he could still be alive, what he actually was. Undoubtedly, this was Derek. I stared at him and he stared back. The other man looked at here and there. He was really confused.

Suddenly I heard voices behind me. One of them was Amelia's voice. She was upset about something. "Listen to me. I'm living here. This house is my sister-in-law's. It is, but not really, my house. It's my home since almost two years." she yelled. "Just let me go, you stupid woman." she said.

Then I heard the woman screamed, "Ow!" and Amelia was right by my side.

"Why are you standing outside?" she asked me, surprised. She took the keys I dropped and after I didn't answer her question, she followed my gaze to Derek. She also froze. "Derek!" she said.

"Your subletters are really impolite. They are like a vermin. These kids will ruin the whole house. It is the right time to sell the house, Honey." she said and went to Derek. Then she kissed him. "Don't stare at him." she said to Amelia and I.

"Meredith!" Amelia said. She came to me and took Ellis. Then she paced her other hand on my back and continued saying, "Let's go inside before you a catch cold.". I couldn't say anything but I could move, so I just nod. "Would you like to come inside, too?" Amelia asked the four people. The woman affirmed and the four followed us inside. I heard Zola and Bailey playing inside Zola's room.