A/N: so this is actually the last chapter I wrote at the same time as the other chapters. I wrote these first 9 as an ongoing story, which I broke down into chapters. Now I'm going to write this on a chapter-by-chapter basis. Hopefully it won't peter out like my other ones, but I have high hopes for this story. It actually has potential to actually maybe slightly happen. I already have at least another five chapters written after this one too. And I am so bringing back some familiar faces! It makes me happy just thinking about it. This is how the Zola storyline should have ended.
Meredith POV
I was fine. I was stitched up. I wanted to go home. They had already discharged me, but Owen gave me the rest of the day and tomorrow off to recover. I just wanted to see Alex, to make sure he was ok. I wanted to find George and hug him and tell him everything that had happened since he left us. But at that moment, I was sitting completely still in the waiting room, not sure what I was waiting for.
I watched the people pass me, looking for someone to tell me something, anything. I wondered where George went, but didn't take the time to look, not really wanting to move. I was almost scared to, I think; worried that something else might go wrong. I had heard about Henry, and I knew Alex was in surgery. I couldn't leave until I knew he was better. I also was wondering about the baby. I had promised the mom I'd stay with her, but I hadn't followed through with that.
I guess I was at a loss as to what to do now. The only thing I could do was wait.
"Meredith?" I heard Lexie's voice behind me. I turned to see her in scrubs. "George told me to tell you to go home. He's there waiting for you."
"Alex?" I asked. Lexie smiled.
"He's going to be fine. Some internal bleeding, Derek fixed him up nicely, though. The baby's fine too. It was touch and go, but now, we think she'll pull through. The mom should be here tomorrow."
"Good," I replied absentmindedly. Alex was fine. The baby was fine. Everyone was fine, so why did I still feel hollow? Lexie looked at me in concern.
"Find Derek and go home," she said. "You two need to think about what you are going to do now. Alright? Promise me you'll find Derek and go home?"
"Not necessary, Lexie," I heard Derek say as he walked up, already dressed and ready to go home. He grabbed my coat and draped it over my shoulders. "C'mon, Mere. Lexie, we'll see you at home."
Lexie nodded and we headed in opposite directions. The car ride home was silent. Derek was giving me my space. But my mind was blank. I wasn't really thinking about anything, avoiding the topic that so anxiously wanted to be at the forefront of my mind. I missed Zola.
As we got to the front door, Derek finally spoke.
"We'll try and get her back, Mere, I promise."
"I know," I replied. I noticed the light on inside. "George is staying with us, by the way. Until he finds a place of his own."
Derek nodded, smiling a bit. "I can't believe he's back."
"I can't either," I said. "That's one of the only good things to come of today."
Derek nodded and placed a hand at the small of my back, guiding me up the steps. I pushed through the front door and immediately overtaken in warmth and light and sound. I heard George's voice from the living room and the voice of someone else laughing in a shrill giggle. I recognized the giggle, but it didn't even seem possible after the miracle of George returning today. I turned the corner to the living room, Derek right behind me.
Tear immediately sprang to my eyes at the sight in front of me: George, bouncing my baby Zola on his lap, her laugh filling my ears. My baby was in my house again. I placed a hand over my mouth and let out a happy sob. George looked up at us and smiled widely.
"So, I was called to examine this baby today and I was told that you two were the parents, so I thought she might as well carpool with me."
I ran forward and Zola lit up the moment she saw me, reaching her little arms towards me. I picked her up and held her tightly to me, gasping happy tears. Derek came up and took Zola from my arms while I hugged George.
"How?"
"Apparently the courts decided they loved you after all. They called Janet yesterday and Zola's final thing before she could go home to you two was the check-up. Arizona had me do it and then told me to go home. I asked Janet if I could bring the baby home and surprise you and she agreed. She said she will call you tonight and set up a meeting with you for tomorrow so you can sign the adoption papers. She's yours, Mere. She's you daughter now."
I inhaled shakily and hugged George again before grabbing Zola from Derek. I was never letting go of her again.
A/N: Meredith and Derek deserve for something to go right for them. A lot of bad stuff has happened (by their own stupidity sometimes) and I just couldn't bear the thought of them without Zola. Of course, Shonda Rhimes's entire storyline might be a ploy to actually write Patrick Dempsey off the show, but that would be like The Big Bang Theory without Jim Parsons as Sheldon. It just wouldn't work. What are you guys' thoughts?
