The next morning Meredith lay in her bed sound asleep when she was suddenly woken by a tickling feeling on the back of her neck. She turned around to find her daughter watching her.
"Abbey, are you watching me sleep?" Meredith laughed gazing into Abbey's green eyes.
"No, I'm playing with your hair" Abbey giggled "It's really soft, and smells pretty." She continued
"Really?" Meredith asked as she swept a piece of hair from Abbey's face.
"Yeah" Abbey replied
"Ok Ladybug, let's get you into the bath..." Meredith said as she lifted herself out of bed "...Come on" she continued picking Abbey up and carrying her to the bathroom.
Once Meredith had bathed and changed Abbey they made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Ok baby, sit down at the table and I'll get you you're breakfast ok?" Meredith said as she made her way over to the fridge.
"Ok Mommy" Abbey replied climbing onto a chair.
"Ok here you go" Meredith said handing Abbey a bowl of cereal.
"Mommy?" Abbey mumbled with a mouth full of food.
"Abbey no talking with your mouth full." Meredith reminded her as she took a seat at the table.
"Sorry..." Abbey apologised before gulping down her mouth full of food "...Is daddy home with my surprise yet?" She asked
"No baby he's not here" Meredith replied before putting down her coffee and stroking the top of Abbeys head.
"Oh, is he still working?" she said looking a Meredith with sorrowed eyes
"Yeah I think so. Tell you what why don't we give him a call huh?" Meredith smiled
"Yeah, yeah" Abbey replied grinning.
"Ok" Meredith stood up and lifted the phone from the receiver before dialling Derek number
"Is he there?" Abbey asked as she jumped of her chair and sat on Meredith lap.
"No it's just ringing...here listen" she replied as she moved the phone to Abbey's ear, suddenly someone picked up.
"Hello"
"Daddy!" Abbey shouted down the phone
"Hi baby, you ok?" Derek asked
"Yeah, have you finished work? Mommy said you have a surprise for me" she asked as her tiny hair gripped the phone
"Ah yes baby I do but I don't know if I can give it to you today I'm really busy at work" Derek replied
"Oh ok" Abbey sighed
"Tell you what, I'll have a word with Uncle Richard, and see if I can get home early ok?"
"Ok" Abbey said before handing the phone to Meredith
"Hi" Meredith spoke down the phone
"Hey, listen I'm about to go into surgery I can't talk right now" Derek said
"Abbey sweetie why don't you go in play in the living room, mommy's going to have some grown up talk with daddy." Meredith asked while lifting Abbey of her lap.
"Ok" Abbey replied before running out of the room
"No Derek. You are going to listen to me. It's you're day off today, and you are supposed to watch her. I have a shift at 9"
"Just take her to day care and I'll pick her up after my surgery ok"
"Derek we really need to talk, this is getting ridiculous, your never home anymore." Meredith said raising her voice.
"Meredith I don't have time for this I need to scrub in, we will talk tonight ok?" Derek said
"Fine..." there was a moment of silence between them both.
"Ok then, I love you" Derek said breaking the silence
"Yeah, I love you too" Meredith said annoyed. The phone suddenly went dead and she placed it down on the table before standing up and walking out of the kitchen.
"Abbey grab your coat" Meredith yelled.
XXXXXXXX
20 minutes late for work Meredith finally walked through the doors of Seattle Grace Hospital. As she rushed towards the elevator, she yelled back to her daughter who was wandering behind her
"Abbey come on hurry up" she yelled as she held the elevator door open for her daughter. As soon as Abbey stepped inside the doors close and she pressed the button for the floor in which day care was situated. As they stood there in hand and hand the doors open on the surgical floor. As people started to enter the elevator, Meredith suddenly noticed Derek standing at the nurse's station filling out a chart. She picked Abbey up and exited the elevator making her way over to Derek, with Abbey in her arms.
"Derek!" Meredith shouted
"Daddy!" Abbey shouted happily
Derek turned and smiled when he saw his two favourite girls making their way towards him
"Hi sweetie" Derek said as he took Abbey from Meredith's arms
He kissed Abbey on the cheek before leaning over to Meredith kissing her quickly on the lips
"Really Derek?" Meredith asked
"What?" he asked in return
"Look I'm late, and seeing as you're doing nothing... Wait I thought you said you had a surgery?"
"I did..." Derek said as she pushed Abbey higher on his hip "...The patient crashed as soon as we put him under" Derek said smiling at Abbey when he noticed she was grinning at him.
"She's missed you" Meredith said as she pushed back a piece of hair from Abbey face.
Derek gave her a quick look of concern before they were both interrupted by the chief.
"Dr Shepherd" He interrupted.
"Yes" Meredith and Derek said simultaneously.
"Yeah" Abbey also replied
Derek suddenly looked at Abbey, with a slight frown.
"She's a Doctor this week Derek..." Meredith said "... Which you would know if you ever came home" She continued lowering her voice. Derek shot her quick frown before being distracted by the chief again.
"Yes, I meant Meredith, Dr Yang is looking for you." Richard said as he reached over and tickled Abbey.
"Yeah ok..." Meredith replied to the chief "Ok sweetie mommy will see you later ok? Love you" Meredith continued as she kissed her daughter head which rested on Derek shoulder.
"Love you too mommy" Abbey replied puckering up her lips wanting another kiss from Meredith. Meredith quickly kissed Abbey and made her way back towards the elevator.
"Is Meredith ok? You two seen a little..." The chief asked
"Yeah..." Derek replied, suddenly his pager went off. He pulled it from his pocket and looked at it.
"... Everything's fine. Erm can you...?" Derek said nodding towards Abbey who was still being held up on his hip.
"Yeah sure" the chief replied as Derek set Abbey down onto the floor
"Ok princess Uncle Richards gonna take you to day care ok, I'll see you later...." Derek said bending down to face level with Abbey. "... Ok?" he repeated as Abbey just stared at him.
"Fine" Abbey said as she walked to Richard before reaching up for his hand.
"Ok" Derek sighed before walking way.
XXXXXXXX
Meredith stared at her watch tensely before calling her patients time of death,
"Time of death is 14:39" She placed the paddles back down onto the crash cart and handed the patients chart to one of the interns which were assigned to her service for the day.
"I'm sorry Dr. Shepherd" One of the interns said to her as they made their way out of the patient's room.
"Yeah me too. You know she was one of my first patients as an attending, it never gets any easier. Ok can you break the news to the family and see if they want an autopsy. Don't forget they have just lost their daughter, be compassionate." Meredith said as she walked towards the attending lounge.
"Hey" Meredith said as she closed the door and walked over to the couch.
"Hey, you ok? You look pretty bummed" Cristina replied as he sipped on her coffee.
"I lost Danielle, my first real patient, who I operated on myself" Meredith sighed
"Have you spoken to her parents?" Cristina asked
"No! I've Turner to do it." She replied as she took Cristina's coffee from her hand
"Oh. How's happy family life?" Cristina asked taking the coffee back form Meredith.
"Abbey's fine, she's amazing actually." Meredith smiled
"Yuck" Cristina sounded out
"What?" Meredith said frowning at her.
"Ever since you had Abbey all you've gone all gooey and soft and disgusting"
"Having a child does that to you, she just makes me feel like I can do anything you know, she the best thing that's ever happened to me" Meredith said as a smile began to play on her face.
"Like I said yuck, wait I thought Derek was the best thing that happened to you?"
"Ha don't even get me started on Derek, lately he's just been, well an ass, he's never around, like ever. Now I kinda see why Addison cheated on him" Meredith mentioned as she opened a patients chart.
"MEREDITH!" Cristina yelled in shock.
"What? I mean I would never cheat on Derek. Never! I love him, I do, and it's just sometimes I feel like I did when he chose his wife!"
"Depressed and hung-over?" Cristina joked
"No, alone. But then again I do have Abbey, she's the one who makes me wanna get out of bed in the mornings, she the once who keeps me sane!" Meredith said as she heard her pager go off. She took a quick glance at it before looking at Cristina in confusion.
"What? What is it? Good trauma?" Cristina jumped
"No it's day care! It's about Abbey. It's just before three Derek should have picked her up by now! I gotta go" Meredith said standing up before walking past Cristina and swiping her coffee from her once again and walking out of the room.
"Yeah thanks" Cristina said waving her hand which once occupied her coffee.
XXXXXX
Meredith rushed to the daycare center as fast as she could. As soon as she got there she looked through the window and noticed that Abbey was sitting on a chair away from the other children. Meredith frowned and walked through the doors and made her way over to Katrina, the daycare manager.
"Hey, what's going on? I got paged" Meredith said
"Ok, Dr Shepherd I don't mean to alarm you but... Abbey got into a little fight with one of the other children" Katrina said while placing her hand on to Meredith arm trying to reassure her.
"What, no Abbey would not do that, are you sure" Meredith replied peering over her shoulder looking at her daughter sitting alone.
"Yes I am, I saw it. Freddy the other child is ok, I think he was just I little bit startled is all." Katrina said as she rubbed Meredith arm.
"I don't understand why she would do that, I mean she never hits anyone" Meredith said in confusion.
"Well she did seem a little agitated this morning after Dr Webber dropped her off"
"Dr Webber?" Meredith asked
"Yeah, he dropped her off" Katrina replied
"Are you sure?" said asked
"Yes it's all written down in the log book, here look..." Katrina said handing the book to Meredith "... Abbey Shepherd was dropped off at 9:25am by Dr Webber... Look Meredith I don't know what's going on but I think you should have a talk with her. Because over the past few weeks she's not been herself. And I totally agree with you when you say that this is not Abbey normal behaviour, has something happened at home or anything that could of triggered this change?" Katrina continued.
Meredith just sighed and handed the book back to Katrina
"Look I'll talk to her and find out what's going on, I'm so sorry tell Freddy's parents that I'm so sorry about this." Meredith said as she turned around
"Yes of course, and Meredith" Katrina stopped her "I think it's best if you don't bring Abbey here for a few days you know until everything's blown over. I think it's just too much for her" Katrina said before giving Meredith a sympathetic smile and walking away.
Meredith just nodded and walked over to Abbey. Abbey looked up at Meredith as she knelt before her with a cross look on her face.
"Hey baby" Meredith said placing her hands on Abbey knee's. Abbey said nothing and turned her head to look out of the window. "Come on" Meredith as she picked Abbey up from the chair, and attached her to her hip. Meredith walked over Abbey's tiny cubby and grabbed her coat and bag. As they made their way to the door Katrina called for Meredith
"Don't forget these. We have to children draw pictures after nap time, these are Abbey's" She said handing Meredith a bunch of pictures.
"Thanks" Meredith said before taking the pictures and walking out of the room.
XXXXXXX
Meredith walked to the nearest on call-room and opened the door, she held it open for Abbey as she walked inside. Closing the door behind them Meredith turned on the light and sat on the bed.
"Abbey come sit here" Meredith said as she patted the empty space next to her. Abbey never made eye contact with Meredith she just climbed on to the bed and sat in front of her.
Meredith smiled as she stroked Abbey's fine shoulder length hair.
"Abbey, Abbey look at me, Abigail look at me" Meredith said sternly "What's going on baby, this isn't like you, tell me what's up" she more softly.
Abbey turned to face her, and Meredith could see that her eyes had started spill steady tears. "Honey its ok... Sh, sh, sh, sh... " Meredith spoke as she took Abbey in her arms and lifted her on to her lap to cradle her. She began to rock her daughter back and forth, when she heard her say something.
"What was that? Shh it's ok..."Meredith said as she pulled away and wiped the tears from Abbey's eyes "its ok use your words, come tell me what's wrong"
"Daddy doesn't love me" She sobbed
"What of course he loves you, what makes you think that?" Meredith said wiping her face with her fingers to wipe away Abbey's tears.
"Because he never wants to play with me and he never comes home to see me."
"Baby you know he would if he could. It's just his job is very hard and it's very important to him. But not as important as you are." Meredith said as she played with Abbey's tiny fingers
"Really?" Abbey asked
"Yes you're his favourite girl in the world, no one is more important to him than you."
"Well what about you and grandma?" Abbey asked
"Hahha. Well we're his second favourite, but YOU..." Meredith said tapping Abbey lightly on the nose with her finger "... Missy are his number 1" Meredith said smiling at her. "And as for hitting people, Abbey you know that wrong. I thought I taught you better than that." Meredith continued.
"I know, I'm really sorry, I won't ever do it ever, ever, ever again" Abbey smiled
"Promise?"
"Promise mommy" Abbey replied holding out her little arms for a hug
"Well ok then, come here" Meredith said as she embraced Abbey in her arms.
"Oh, I have an idea" Meredith said smiling
"What? What? We're not going to dance it out again are we?" Abbey giggled
"No, we're not..." Meredith laughed as she tickled Abbey "Do you want to go see what daddy does when he's at work?"
"You mean when he's fixing people?" Abbey asked
"Yeah" Meredith replied
"Yeah, please" Abbey said with a big grin.
"Ok grab your stuff and I'll show you." Meredith said as she stood up and opened the on-call room door for Abbey.
XXXXXX
"Hey Izzie" Meredith said as she took a seat next to Izzie. She was the only person sitting in the Gallery above OR1
"Hey Mer..." Izzie smiled
"Mommy where can Dooley sit?" Abbey asked as she ran to Meredith side
"Abbey?" Izzie asked with confusion
"Aunty Izzie" Abbey shouted in excitement
"Hey you what are you doing here" Izzie said as she picked Abbey up and place her on her knee
"Well mommy said that I can watch daddy fix people" Abbey said smiling
"Did she really?" Izzie looked at Meredith and leaned towards her.
"Mer he's doing a craniotomy, are you sure Abbey will want to watch that?" She whispered in Mer's ear
"Well if she anything like me or he dad then she will" Meredith said grinning as she took Abbey teddy Dooley from her.
"Mommy when's daddy getting here?" Abbey asked
"Well..." Meredith started as she lifted Abbey from Izzie and onto her lap "... Ok, see down there?" Meredith said as she pointed down towards the OR
"Yeah" Abbey said
"You see that man with the funny light on his head at the top of the table?" Mere continued
"Yeah" Abbey said sounding pretty amused
"Well that's daddy" She said smiling before taking a quick glance at Izzie who was watching Abbey
"Really that's daddy? Is he fixing that person?" She said as she hopped off Meredith knee and walked over and placed her hands onto the glass
"Yeah" Meredith smiled "This is what he does all day when he's not at home."
"So he's fixing someone's brain?" Abbey asked
"Yep, that's what he's doing" Meredith replied
"Why what's wrong with it?" Abbey asked
"Well when it's not working properly, they come and find daddy and tell him what's wrong and then he fixes them and make them feel better" Meredith said as stood up from her chair and knelt beside her daughter.
"Oh, can he see me?" Abbey asked looking at Meredith
"Better than that why don't you talk to him?" She smiled as she stood up and lifted Abbey up onto her hip.
"Can I?" She asked widening her eyes, which she defiantly inherited from her father, if looks could kill!
"Yeah, look..." Meredith said as she walked Abbey over to the microphone on the wall "If you press that button there you can talk to him" She continued as she pointed at the button on the wall
"Daddy?" Abbey said as she pressed in the button
Derek look around the OR and suddenly looked up to find three women in the gallery, one was Izzie looking intently at the surgery below and the other two were standing at the other end of the gallery smiling at him.
"Hello you, what are you doing up there?" He asked as he smiled underneath his mask
"I'm watching you fix people ha-ha" Abbey giggled
"Yeah I can see that, have you been good today?"
"Erm..." Abbey suddenly looked at her mom giving her a guilty and back at Derek "Yes"
"Really yes?" He laughed
"Yes!" She giggled once more.
"Look baby I'm gonna be in here a while so why don't you and mommy take a walk or go to the cafeteria and I'll come find you afterwards ok?" He said as he continued to probe around in his patient's brain.
"No I want to watch you"
"Ok then" he laughed
Meredith placed Abbey down onto the floor and watched her run over to Izzie who helped her get onto a chair next to her.
"Mer?" Derek said before she walked away form he Microphone
"Yeah" she replied pressing the button once more
"If he codes take her out of the room ok?"
"Don't worry I've got it covered, Derek"
"I know you do" He said with a smile. Meredith knew he was smiling at her even with his mask on she could tell by the look in his eyes. She stood there for a moment before smiling back. She walked back over to Izzie and took a seat next to Abbey, and both continued to watch Derek ask he 'fixed people'
So thanks for the comments they were really nice, real boost in my confidence. This was sort of just a little chapter about Abbey, so you guys can see what the relationship between Meredith and Derek is doing to Abbey don't worry though I don't want you guys to be scared off, things will get better between them, it's just gonna take some time. My butt has gone really sore now I haven't moved in two hours LOL! Anyways hope you like it!!
Please take the time to review they really my me smile!