Once again THANK YOU to everyone who commented following the last update. Jessica I am sorry that I was unable to send you a teaser, you left a comment without logging in, therefore I could not PM it to you :((.

So the update below doesn't get you off of the cliff I left you on following the last update but I promise that is coming real soon and you will discover exactly what Rose is up to ; )

Without further ado new update below and once again if you would like a teaser from the next update please let me know in your comment. Enjoy...

Chapter 25

"And just what do you think you are doing out of bed?"

Meredith was startled by a voice that came from behind her as she stood looking through the window into Lia's room, watching her as she slept. "Dr. Webber," a small smile graced her face and turned briefly to look at him. "I'm ok, I needed to see her…"

"Meredith, you need to take care of yourself as well, today has been an emotional day for you. And are you sure that the sedative you were given has fully worn off?"

"It has and I am ok I just need my little girl."

"Derek says that she is doing well."

"I have not seen her awake yet, but he said the latest MRI scan showed the tumor has almost gone."

"It's a miracle… Have you decided how you are going to tell her…?"

He didn't have to continue as Meredith knew what he was referring to. "I keep going over it in my mind again and again trying to find the right words… you know?" Meredith paused as she wiped away the tears from her eyes before they had the chance to fall. "I mean, how do you tell a 5 year old who has already been through so much that her Daddy is dead?"

Richard moved in closer to Meredith and put an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. "Has she ever known anyone who has died before?"

"Yes, urm… Matt's Mom passed away, she was really close to her too."

"That's good," Richard said nodding his head, which prompted Meredith to look up at him, questioning him with raised eyebrows. "I mean not that she is dead of course. I mean it's good that she already knows a little about death, it makes it just that little bit easier."

"I guess, I just wish I didn't have to do it…"

"I know… Meredith?" Richard thought carefully as he tried to find the correct words for the next question he wanted to ask.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I know that you have a lot to deal with right now, but have you thought about what you are going to do once Lia is ready to be discharged?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you going to go back to Seattle?"

"I don't know, our home is there…"

"But your friends and family are here…"

"What about my job?"

"Well, I have a solution for you, or rather a proposal. I need another head of Neurosurgery here…"

"What about Derek?" Meredith asked; the confusion was evident across her features.

"Derek's not going anywhere, with the trial about to take off now, he is going to be to tied up. I need another Neurosurgeon to take over the day running of the department and I think that you will be perfect for that role. And also with the ground breaking trial you conducted yourself, you will be a true asset to this hospital."

"Does Derek know about this?"

"I have not mentioned it yet, but come on, it's not as if he is going to object, is it?" he said with a chuckle.

"Maybe not, but I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing at the moment…"

"You will work it out, kiddo…" Richard reassuringly squeezed her shoulder. "And speaking of Kiddo's, Lia's awake…" A huge smile graced his face.

Meredith felt her heart skip a beat as she glanced at her daughter, watching as she sleepily stretched both arms. She couldn't help the tears of happiness that sprang to her eyes, because part of her had begun to prepare for the fact that she would never see her daughter's smiling face again.

"Take it slowly and follow your instinct, you're an amazing Mother and you are what she needs," Richard said as Meredith started to open the door.

"Thank you!" Meredith said with a small smile as she silently prepared herself for the task ahead. "And, Richard, I will think about it…"

"Mama!" Lia excitedly exclaimed as soon as she heard the door open and saw her Mother step into the room. "You're awake, Aunt Cristina said you were sleeping, I missed you."

"Oh baby, I missed you too," Meredith enveloped Lia into her arms breathing in her scent, which surprisingly was still uniquely her despite being in the hospital. "How are you feeling, sweetie?"

"My head is a little sore but Mr. Derek said it won't last long and that he fixed my boo boo so I can do normal kids stuff now. He is a clever man, isn't he? But don't worry, Mommy, you are still the bestest doctor."

"Why, thank you, Lia." Meredith kissed her on the head as tears of happiness and sheer relief gathered once again in her eyes. It was nothing short of a miracle to see Lia behaving how she was. It was a well known fact that children always bounced back a lot more quickly, but her progress so far was outstanding.

Lia pulled back and looked at her mother, reaching up to gently wipe away a tear that had escaped from her eye. "Mama, what's wrong?" she questioned. "You don't need to be sad anymore. Mr. Derek says that am not going to have those nasty seizures anymore, I am better."

"Oh honey, I am crying happy tears right now, I am just so happy that you are better."

"Oh that's good because I need to look after you now and you are not allowed to be sad. Grandma and Daddy told me that I had to be a big girl now and take care of you."

"W- what was that Lia?" Meredith asked in a confused state.

"I saw Grandma and Daddy, oh and Sookie too, when I went home. I played with Sookie for a bit and I had a talk with Grandma, she told me that I weren't opposed to be there though and that I needed to come back here to you coz you would be sad."

Meredith continued to listen to Amelia ramble on, desperately trying to make sense of what she was saying. She had heard plenty of patients describe afterlife experiences but as a doctor you are trained to think that there is a scientific explanation. But as her daughter continued she began to question that belief.

"Grandma was bringing me back to you Mommy, there was a magical light, I didn't even have to take the airplane to come back. Then I saw Daddy, he said that he had to stay to look after Grandma and that he wouldn't be able to come back with us. He told me that he loved me lots and that I needed to be a brave girl. I really won't see him again for a long time, will I Mommy?"

"Oh sweetie," Meredith sat on the bed and enveloped her into her arms again as the tears cascaded uncontrollably down her face. "I'm really sorry but no, it's going to be just you and me from now on kiddo…"

"Nu huh," Lia said pulling back from Meredith and looking up at her face, a little frown immediately crossing her features. "Mommy, I had to make Daddy pinky swears, one was that we couldn't be sad. Daddy is always with us in our hearts even if we cannot see him. So no being sad Mommy!" Lia scolded, and Meredith couldn't help but giggle at the seriousness on her face. "And you need to find me a new Daddy."

If Meredith was shocked before, Lia's last declaration sent her level of surprise to new levels. She was completely flabbergasted and couldn't even begin to find a way to respond to her.

Lia continued as Meredith remained silent. "I pinky sweared to Daddy that I would give you his message, he said that it was ok for you to give me a new Daddy. I really need a new Daddy, Mommy, and I know… how about Mr. Derek? I really like him and he doesn't already have any kids, so he needs some."

Just when she thought her daughter couldn't shock her anymore, she was definitely mistaken. She also couldn't deny that although she still felt immensely guilty about betraying Matt, she felt a wave of happiness surge through her. Maybe the gods really were on her side for once. She made a pact with God to always put Lia's needs first and Lia just told her that she needed a new father so maybe her and Derek would get their happy ever after, after all.

"Mommy, that's better! You're happy, Daddy will be pleased with me. I did a good job, right?"

"Yes, honey, you did a good job." Meredith kissed her again on the top of her head as Lia let out a massive yawn. "And I think it's past somebody's bed time, don't you think?" Meredith slipped out of the bed and helped Lia scoot down so that she could get into a comfortable position to be able to sleep, whilst she tucked her covers around her.

"I am sleeeepy!" she declared around another yawn.

Meredith smiled down at her whilst gently brushing her hand over her arm. Lia was asleep within a matter of seconds. The door quietly opening behind her caused her to turn around. "Sssh…" she said as she held her finger to her mouth to indicate that her visitor should remain quiet. She walked over to the door and gestured that they should move outside whilst she whispered that Lia had just gone to sleep.

"Hey, I called the ward and the nurses said that you were awake, how are you holding up?" Amelia asked.

"I'm ok, surprisingly, really ok."

"That's good, Der said that Lia is doing really well."

"She is, it's amazing…"

"Mer…" Amelia interrupted but then briefly hesitated before continuing. "Have you told her about her Dad yet?"

"I didn't have to, she already knew…"

"You mean someone else told her? I swear I will kill the nurses if she overheard through gossip…"

"Amy, calm down, she never heard from gossip, apparently she had some sort of afterlife experience, she saw Matt."

"You hear a lot about it, I know it's harder for you to believe it being a Doctor but I believe it."

"Lia certainly made me question my belief, science really doesn't hold all of the answers. There is no way that she could have known about Matt." Meredith suddenly giggled as she remembered Lia's request for a new Daddy.

"Urm Mer I am glad you are ok but has that sedative made you a little high?"

"Huh… What are you talking about?"

"You're not exactly behaving normally, we are talking about your dead husband and you're giggling when earlier you had to be sedated?"

"Oh I am not giggling about Matt being dead." A wave of sadness washed over her but she continued, "I was thinking about something Lia said. You know she said that Matt told her that I needed to find her a new Daddy, she then asked if Mr. Derek could be her new Daddy. She said he needed kids."

Amelia giggled, "Well, I guess that solves a lot of your concerns and you know that Derek would be more than happy to fill that role."

"I know."

"What are you going to do, Mer?"

"I don't know. I need to plan Matt's funeral first and work through some stuff. Derek said that he would wait for me, and for Lia. And Dr. Webber offered me a job here. I think I will take it and then take things slowly with Derek and see what happens."

"Oh Mer!" Amelia excitedly exclaimed as she flung her arms around Meredith. "Welcome home."

So loving it or hating it please leave a review/comment and let me know, also remember to let me know if you would like a teaser from the next update sent to you.

Jen xxx