Chapter 4 (MerDer)

Meredith Grey: 37, Pediatric Surgeon at National Children's Medical Centre

Derek Shepherd: 40, CEO of a medical technology company

Ask any doctor in USA who Dr. Meredith Grey is, most of them would tell you the same answer: she is one of the best pediatric surgeons in the US, well, probably one of the best in the world. Unlike most pediatric surgeons, Dr. Grey never sees kids as miniature of adults. Instead, she treats every kid as an individual, and always put the need of the child before the need of their parent. This can probably explain why she is the most popular doctor among kids, and why parents love to go to her whenever their kids got sick…

"This is a full load of crap." Alex snorted and slapped the magazine he was holding onto the coffee table. "Every pediatrician treats kids like they are an individual, because they freaking are! Why am I not being chosen as the 'best pediatrician'?"

"Have you ever looked into the mirror?" Lexie Grey laughed and picked up the magazine. She flipped to the cover and saw the picture of her sister next to the heading "Meredith Grey: The Angel of Children".

"Okay, now I agree this is a bit too much. 'Angel'? Really?" Lexie laughed so hard that there is tears running down her cheeks. A slender hand appeared behind her and snapped the magazine from her. Lexie turned around and saw her sister staring at her in a quite… unhappy face.

"You two are just jealous," Meredith announced and flipped to her interview. "See? The two of you can never truly appreciate people better than you. That's why you were not chosen as the best pediatrician."

"Whatever." Alex rolled his eyes so hard that it hurts, he blinked a few times and saw Meredith heading out of the lounge. "Mer, where are you going?"

"I am going to save children because I am an awesome surgeon," Meredith paused and added, "And the angel of children."

Check the notebook in her pocket, Meredith headed directly to the NICU to check on the premie she delivered yesterday. On her way to NICU, she saw a little girl sitting on the sofa in the lobby alone. The dark-skinned little girl is wearing a set of SpongeBob pajamas and her tiny curls was being tied into two strange looking pigtails. 'This must be a patient from Paeds… How come I've never saw her before?' Meredith thought in her mind.

The little girl was also holding a teddy bear in her arms while looking around anxiously, probably waiting for her parents. Meredith shrugged and was about to head to NICU as she was supposed to. But suddenly, the little girl began to cough vigorously. Meredith thought for a second, and decided to send this girl back to her room first.

"Hello. I am Meredith, who are you?" Meredith approached the little girl and asked.

"I am Zola."

"Zola, what are you doing here? You should be in your room now." Meredith sat down beside her and asked. Zola didn't answer her, she just bit her lip and held her teddy bear tighter.

"Mm… Are you waiting for your parents?" Meredith asked gently. Zola looked at her, nodded, and shook her head.

"Are you… Dr. Grey?" Zola whispered and looked at Meredith's badge, but she probably couldn't read very well, as she struggled to find the word "Grey".

"Yes, I am. See here? Meredith Grey." Meredith pointed at her name and read. Zola suddenly grabbed her arm and yelled, "I am waiting for you!"

"Me? Why?" Meredith said amused.

"Because you are the angel of children! I want you to help find my mommy!"

Meredith smiled and cursed the reporters for that crappy heading silently. She looked at her watch and said with a sorry face, "Zola… I am sorry, but I still have some work to do. How about I ask the nurses to help you find your mommy?"

"No! Only you can help me find my mommy!"

Meredith looked at Zola's face and sighed, "Alright, But first, I have to finish my work. Can you wait for me in your room? Okay, follow me. But promise me to be quiet and don't touch anything, okay?"

Zola nodded happily and followed Meredith.

It was already 3 hours later after Meredith finished checking on most of her patients. At first, she worried that Zola will be exhausted, but this little girl seems to be very interested in medical stuff and was not even a bit bored.

"Okay, now let's go back to your room and have lunch first before we go to look for mommy, alright?" Meredith said to Zola as she searches for her room number on her iPad.

"Room 206… here it is." Meredith opened the door and saw two men standing in the room, pacing anxiously making phone calls.

"Daddy!" Zola yelled and hugged the man with wonderful hair.

"Where have you been! Mark and I were searching for you everywhere! We almost have to call the police!" The man said in a relieved tone. The man beside him with salt and pepper hair ended the call and exhaled in relief as well. He rubbed the little girl's hair gently and said, "See? I told you Zola is the smartest little girl in the world. She won't get lost easily am I right?"

Meredith stood by the door, not sure whether she should go or stay and talk to the couple, maybe give them a lecture on how to look after your toddler as well… But she couldn't really find a space to interrupt the happy family. Just as she decided to go, Zola yelled her name, "Meredith! Don't go!"

Meredith stopped and turned around awkwardly. The two men stood up and introduced themselves.

"Hi! You must be the doctor that brings Zola back to her room! Thank you, really… By the way, I am Derek Shepherd, Zola's father." The man with the dreamy hairstyle said with a dreamier smile.

"And I am Mark, Mark Sloan. Nice to meet you, um… Dr. Grey." Another man said while giving Meredith a wink. "I think I know a Dr. Grey too, interesting right?"

"Well, Grey is not really an uncommon last name right?" Meredith replied coldly. Apparently, she has no interest in flirting with a gay.

"Daddy! Meredith is an angel! She can help us find mama!" Zola said excitedly, not noticing the sorrow in her daddy's eyes when she say the word "mama". Mark coughed unnaturally, and said to Meredith,

"Dr. Grey, do you mind talking with me about Zola's situation for a second? Privately?"

Although Meredith is not sure about his intention, she still nodded and step outside with Mark.

"So… Did Zola told you anything about her mommy?"

"No, she just said she want me to help her find her mother." Meredith replied. Noticing the Mark's strange face, she quickly added, "Well I've seen tons of cases like Zola's before. Probably because of the influence of media, many kids from homosexual families would wonder where their father or mother were. But with proper explanation, she will slowly understand why her family is different, and there is no shame at all…"

"Whoa. Wait." Mark interrupted her with a terrified look on his face, "You… you don't… you think Derek and I, we, are a… couple?"

"You… are not…?"

"Hell no!" Mark almost screamed as he denied. "What in God's name makes you think we are a couple!"

"Well, you just… feel like one… I am sorry."

"It's… fine. Never mind. What I wanted to say is, please, help us keep a secret." He sighed and said with a more serious face.

"Alright…"

"About Zola's mother… You are not going to be able to find her."

"Did she… died?"

"No. Well, I guess you know that already, Zola is Derek's adopted daughter. He adopted Zola when she was still an infant with his wife, Addison. But after a few months, Addison suddenly filed for a divorce with Derek and moved to LA. She said she wasn't aware that she is not ready to be a mom when they apply for the adoption. Since that day, Derek has become a single father." Mark sighed again when he recalled the ugly divorce between his two best friends. "Derek and I own a company together, so from time to time, I help him taking care of Zola."

"Mm… I see… But why are you telling me this?" Meredith asked confused.

"Zola saw your interview on the magazine somewhere, and she believed that you are really an angel that can make children's wish come true. She wanted you to help her find her mother but, as I told you before, it is impossible. But Derek and I, we are not planning to tell her the truth just yet. So I would like you to help us keep this as a secret."

Meredith smiled and nodded, "Don't worry. I will never let her know."

"Thank you." Mark grinned at her as well, "Just one more thing… do you know some other Dr. Grey?"

"I know a few Dr. Greys, actually. Do you know the first name?"

"Nah… I can't remember it… Never mind. Thank you for your help, Dr. Grey." Mark smiled and went back into the room. As she leaves for the NICU, Meredith couldn't help but looked at Derek Shepherd again.