Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Thank you for all your ind words of encouragement. I'm sorry this story has not been updated this week. I have not been well. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this update...
Meredith's Point of View
What if she is taken away from me?
What if she is put back in care?
How will she cope?
How will I cope?
My hands will not stop shaking no matter how hard I try to stop them.
'Meredith,' I hear someone whisper and before I know it, someone embraces me from be-hind.
Uh-oh...I am busted.
How come I didn't hear him come in?
I wasn't expecting him, was I?
Oh...Lexie. I'm going to kill that girl!
I can still feel the tears streaming from my eyes. My cheeks are beginning to burn thanks to the amount I have cried. Lucky, Zola hasn't seen me like this.
Zola; my daughter.
My beautiful baby girl.
'It's going to be okay Meredith,' I hear Derek whisper in my ear as he pulls me even closer to him.
'I...I...can't...'
'It's okay,' he assures me in a soft, gentle voice. This is exactly why I love him. 'You don't have to say anything,' he whispers, rubbing his hand up and down my arm while his other hand is wrapped round me, squeezing my frozen cold hand. 'It's okay,' he repeats. 'I'm here.'
'Zola...' I manage to breathe out through my tears.
'Is sound asleep in the nursery,' I hear Derek say. I know he is smiling. 'She's perfect Meredith and she is not going anywhere. We are all going to make sure of that.'
It takes a village to raise a child. My child will be raised by the most weirdest and wonderful village. That, I will make damn sure happens!
Derek's Point of View
She looks so small and scared. I can understand because Zola means everything to her; the same way she and Meredith mean everything to me. I cannot bear the thought of losing either one of them.
Meredith needs to find a way to be okay tomorrow. She needs to pull through this dark tunnel because the social worker needs to see her at her best tomorrow.
I want to ask her why she has a whole load of family pictures scattered across the floor and why is she clutching a couple in her hands but I won't because I don't want to set her off again. She needs to stay calm and I have a feeling that asking her would probably work her up instead of keep her calm so instead I just keep rubbing my hand up and down her arm while holding her close.
"What time is the social worker coming tomorrow?" I prod gently.
"Around 2 o' clock, why?" she asks me. I can hear hesitancy in her voice. At least she did not flinch when I asked.
"I have an idea," I whisper, "but it involves you getting a good night's sleep," I state.
"Derek, I…"
"You've already scrubbed the house from top to bottom Meredith and Lexie has went out to get some shopping so we are all set for the visit tomorrow therefore we are going to do exactly what I have planned," I emphasise.
"Why?" Meredith asks and even though she isn't looking at me, I can tell she is smiling.
"Because I said so," I murmur, causing her to giggle. "There it is," I whisper. "I'll never get tired of hearing that sound."
"Derek…"
"By the way," I start, not wanting her to respond to my comment. I know she doesn't want to be an 'us' right now and I'm okay with that but I am not lying about how I feel. She'll just need to get used to it. "Is Lexie living here?"
"Yeah," she sighs. "She was living with George but the place wasn't exactly a home to them but it was for all the bugs they had lying around."
"Oh," I breathe, surprised.
"She needed somewhere to go and with Thatcher being Thatcher, she couldn't be…"
"I get it," I smile, really happy that she and Lexie are finally starting to peacefully coexist. "You're being a big sister," I whisper. "That's good."
"Is it?" She asks quietly.
"There isn't a limit on how many people you should have around you Meredith," I explain. "Don't you think it's a good thing?" I ask her gently, throwing the ball back in her court. The last thing I want her to think is that I'm having a go at her.
"Yeah, I do," she confesses. "And Zola deserves to have an Aunt around her who actually knows what she is doing," she mutters lightly making me chuckle. "It's not funny," she scolds lightly. "You know what Christina is like and I swear Izzie is going to smother her one of these days, the way she constantly coddles her. Don't get me wrong, they are both so good with her but its two different extremes. At least Lexie has the experience with Molly and Laura."
"That's true," I laugh. "Plus, she's a live in babysitter if you ever need her."
"Exactly," Meredith giggles before yawning. "I have it all planned," she jokes with a sigh.
"Sleep Mer," I urge. "You need your sleep."
"Yeah," she sighs. "I think I will."
"I'll be right here," I assure her.
"The spare room has been…"
Oh no!
"I'm not going anywhere Meredith," I whisper, determined. "I am staying right here."
"Good," I feel her smile as she starts to drift off. "Night."
"Sweet dreams Meredith," I whisper in her ear before leaning over gently to kiss her fore-head, causing her to moan before she drifts off and the sound of her soft snores fill the once quiet room.
It isn't until I know she is sound asleep that I carefully extract the two pictures from her hand.
Oh Meredith!
One is of her and Zola curled up in bed together. Neither Zola nor Meredith are looking at the camera as they are too busy smiling at one another. The other is of Thatcher, Ellis and Meredith. Meredith is at her dad's feet, hugging him close, looking up at him with her big green eyes while Ellis is standing beside them at a distance watching with a look that can only be described as disdain on her face.
These two pictures pretty much sum up everything about Meredith's life.
Now we are going to make sure this does not happen to Zola!
Meredith's Point of View
I'm going to kill Derek Christopher Shepherd. Who the hell does he think he is? It's 9am. It's 9 friggin' am and he didn't bother to wake me. Why the hell didn't he wake me? Couldn't he be bothered? There is too much to do and I have Zola to see to. What was he thinking? To sleep in today of all days is just my luck…Just my friggin' luck!
Oh-My-God…
Coming down the stairs, I notice a canvas on the wall of my hallway. It's the picture I had in my hand last night of Zola and I.
How did it get there?
And who the hell got it put on a…
"Good morning," Derek smiles at me as I spot him walking out of the kitchen. He gives me a kiss on the cheek. "You've ruined the surprise," he chuckles at me. "If you'd waited five more minutes, Zola and I would have been bringing you breakfast in bed."
"Who?...How?...What?..." I stutter out, pointing at the canvas in my hallway.
"Zola and I were up and out early this morning. We wanted to surprise you," he confesses, watching me closely and even though he is smiling, I can see the worry in his eyes. "I thought you'd like it but if you don't then I can take it down and…"
"Thank you," I murmur softly, feeling myself smile. "I love it." I can feel myself starting blush as I keep my eyes on the canvas and Derek keeps his eyes on me.
"How did you sleep?" He prods carefully.
"Great, thanks," I breathe, turning to look at him. Oh crap! I slept in! "Derek, why did you let me sleep in so…"
"Because you needed your sleep," he scolds me lightly, not caring that he interrupted me. I hate how he always manages to do that; especially when he's finishing my train of thought. It is spooky.
"Besides, Zola and I have it all worked out," he chuckles.
"Oh, you do, do you?" I ask, giggling. What the hell are they up to?
"Yes," he assures me with a smirk. Ok, now I am definitely not convinced. "We have a plan," he chuckles while raising his eyebrow at me.
"Care to fill me in on your plan?" I ask as I hear Zola giggling in the kitchen. I make a step to go around Derek but he's quick to slide in front of me, blocking my way.
"No," he whispers with a shake of his head.
"Derek, I want to…"
"We will be up in two minutes to give you your breakfast so I suggest you hurry up and get back into bed before you hurt me and your very excited daughter…"
"But I…"
"Go!" He orders with a smirk on his face.
"Ok, ok," I surrender, giggling as I hold my hands up. As I turn to walk back up the stairs, Derek smacks me on the ass.
"Quick march," he chuckles.
"I don't like this whole new bossy side of you," I giggle as I head up the stairs.
"You love it!" he shouts after me. Before I head into my bedroom, the last sound I hear is Derek and Zola laughing and giggling together in the kitchen. Now this is what I call home.
Derek's Point of View
Last night I was so worried about Meredith. That worry hasn't disappeared this morning; if anything it has heightened which I didn't think possible. However, last night, I slept in the same bed as the love of my life, holding her close to me. Last night, for the first time, she allowed me to help her. The fact she has allowed me to help her with Zola over the past few weeks has been a huge step forward for her but last night she allowed me to help her for her. She is making great progress. Even if she cannot see it; I can!
'Breakfast is served,' I smile, carrying in a tray full of goodies. Meredith smiles up at me from her spot on the bed. She looks comfy, sitting up with the pillows fluffed up at her back.
'Thank you,' she smiles appreciatively as I place the tray on her lap. 'Wow, this smells amazing.'
'Well it's no cold pizza,' I joke, sitting down on the bed, facing her.
'Are you mocking me?' She asks with a laugh, cutting into her blueberry pancakes.
'Me? Mock you? I wouldn't dream of it,' I smirk. 'Although, you have to admit that your cooking skills don't leave much to be desired.'
'I can't believe you just said that,' Meredith feigned shock, lifting a pillow from her side and whacking me over the chest with it.
'Watch your perfectly cooked breakfast,' I scold her. 'Zola would be hurt to know that you ruined the breakfast we carefully prepared for you by trying to hurt me with a pillow," I chuckle before stealing one of the strawberries out of the bowl while Meredith takes another bite of the pancakes and moans loudly with her eyes closed.
Ok, I didn't need to hear that. Hearing that reminds me of…
'Where is Zola?' Meredith asks, slightly concerned.
'She's downstairs. I'll just go get her,' I assure her, getting up from the bed and heading for the bed.
'Derek,' she calls after me.
'Yeah?' I turn to face her.
'Thanks,' she beams up at me, making my heart swell. 'Just…thanks…for this," she smiles.
'You're welcome,' I smile and nod at her before leaving her to enjoy some breakfast in peace while I grab Zola.
Meredith's Point of View
Derek is being so sweet to Zola and I; I can't quite wrap my mind around it though. It feels strange to me – foreign. I guess I feel like I am standing on the fence waiting for the bad to show up.
After I demolished my breakfast, I played with Zola as well as getting her washed and changed into a dress I ordered online for her last week. I want her to look her best for the social worker coming this afternoon. Unbeknown to me, Derek ran me a hot bath in the en suite of my bedroom while I was seeing to Zola. I told him he didn't have to but he insisted I soak in the tub, relaxing while he kept Zola entertained and seen to the dishes from break-fast.
When Derek brought Zola up from downstairs while I had breakfast, we felt like a proper family. We were lying on the bed talking and Zola couldn't help but laugh at the both of us as we laughed at one another. We then started to laugh at her laughing at us and before we all knew it, we couldn't stop. Even my ZoZo had tears in her eyes from all the laughing. She is such a sweetheart. You can't help but love her. The problem is that I love her but I now also love what the three of us have together because it is really beginning to feel like the three of us are a family. If it was just Derek and I, I would distance myself again but I can't do that now because If I distance myself from Derek then it will only hurt Zola; that wouldn't be fair to her considering she's only just got her family. I can't allow anyone to be taken from her; especially since she is so attached to Derek. But what do I do? I love him and we are spending virtually all our time together. How do I make it stop?
Hope you all enjoyed this update. Please, please review.
