Unexpected Delivery
Meredith Grey-Shepherd was pregnant with her fifth child. Specifically, she was nine months pregnant and miserable.
She was in the hospital to visit her husband because she was currently on maternity leave. She and Derek were planning on naming this baby Elizabeth Jennifer Grey-Shepherd. Their four children couldn't wait for Mommy to have the baby because, "She's weird," according to oldest daughter Ellis Marcia Grey-Shepherd. Ella was precocious and had already declared she wanted to be a doctor like Mommy and Dad. Meredith and Derek had gotten back together shortly after Addison's visit.
Meredith had become pregnant only a few months later with Ella. Ellis Marcia Grey-Shepherd had been born after seventeen hours of labor. Marcia was in honor of godfather, Mark Sloan. Fourteen months after Ella's birth, Emma Analise Grey-Shepherd was born after thirteen hours of labor. Ella and Emma were close in age, but tended to fight a lot. Sixteen months after Emma was born, Elijah Christopher Grey-Shepherd was born. He was nicknamed Eli. Derek adored his first son, and both he and Mark spoiled him. Eli was thirty months younger than Ella. Eighteen months after Eli's birth, Meredith gave birth to Elyse Annabelle Grey-Shepherd. "Those two really can't keep their hands off of each other", Izzie Stevens-Karev told Miranda Bailey after learning of Meredith's fifth pregnancy. Elyse was currently eleven months old, the shortest difference between the Grey-Shepherd babies.
After learning of his wife's fifth pregnancy, Derek had willingly gone in for a vasectomy. Elizabeth would be the final Grey-Shepherd baby. Ella and Emma had been thrilled to learn they were getting a baby sister. Eli and Elyse didn't really understand that fact.
"How are you feeling," Addison Montgomery Sloan asked Meredith as they walked down the hall. "Miserable," Meredith replied. Addison just laughed. LA had not worked out for Addison, and she had returned shortly after Eli's birth. She had married Mark immediately afterwards, and they had adopted a son they had named Christopher Derek Sloan.
Meredith winced as pain suddenly hit in her stomach. She recognized what it was immediately: A contraction. But something was different this time. "Are you okay," asked Addison. Meredith shook her head.
"I'm pretty sure the baby's coming now," she cried out as another contraction hit her. "Let's get you into bed then," Addison said. "I don't there's any time", Meredith said just as her water broke.
Addison saw Alex and yelled for him to page Derek. Meredith's knees buckled and Addison just barely caught her. She unfortunately had to lay Meredith down on the carpet.
Addison was immediately shocked when she saw that Elizabeth was definitely about to be born and started instructing Meredith to push.
Meredith complied and began pushing. After five pushes, Elizabeth came into the world, screaming her little lungs off.
Alex immediately had a gurney at Meredith's side. Addison tended to Elizabeth, while Bailey and Alex helped Meredith up onto the gurney.
Fifteen minutes later Meredith was in her room holding her new daughter. Derek had rushed to his wife's side only five minutes after delivery.
"She's beautiful," a seven months pregnant Izzie Stevens-Karev told Meredith. "How is little Elizabeth Jennifer Grey-Shepherd," asked Callie Torres. Meredith looked at her husband and he nodded. "Actually, we decided to change her middle name because of her surprising entrance into this world," Meredith explained. "She is now Elizabeth Addison Grey-Shepherd," Derek told their friends. Addison looked shocked and tears came to her eyes. "We also want you to be her godmother," Meredith told her. Addison nodded.
Elizabeth Addison Grey-Shepherd's entrance into the world was dramatic, but nobody ever forgot it.