Disclaimer: We only own Cass and Maeve! Nothing else ;)
iSeriouslylovegreys chapter!
Maeve is home! WOOHOOOO! I hope everyone is happy about that because I know we were definitely happy to give the Shepherds some happiness for a change! This chapter will continue this happy time for the family, hope you like!
Don't forget to review :)
One month later…
"Why can't I go?" Cass wined as Meredith put Maeve in the baby stroller. David was well enough to face a courtroom so they scheduled his trial. The evidence against him was so great that only one person had to testify because it was obvious who would win, they just needed to go through the proper motions before that horrible man was locked up forever. Meredith and Derek discussed it and thought it was best if only Derek testified so Meredith could stay with the girls. Maeve was improving greatly. She hadn't said her first word yet, a little behind others in her age but she was still perfect. Meredith was about two months pregnant and still not working yet to help settle the family. Once Maeve was looking one hundred percent then she would return to work, only to have to stop in a few short months.
"Because you have to go to school and I'm taking a tour of the hospital daycare today. It's Friday so I'm going to be picking you up at 3." Cass sighed and slumped down on the bottom step. She began to lace up her sneakers with her head down.
"Hey now, don't be upset Cass I know you want to help but they only need Derek and we think it's best that you don't ever see your father again. We're trying to move forward honey and this is the best way." Cass nodded.
"I guess, so you'll be at the hospital all day?"
"After we check out the daycare we'll probably hang around your school area and get lunch or something."
"Okay, then after school?"
"We're going to go get some ice cream and meet up with Derek," Meredith replied.
"Great!" Cass smiled leaning down to tickle Maeve's stomach who let out an eruption of giggles. Meredith smiled and picked up Maeve's car seat.
"Ready to go girls?" Maeve let out a gurgle.
"It sounds like Mae is," Cass giggled and ran out the door, the skip back in her step.
"I returned home from work and saw a car without plates parked down the road, it seemed suspicious," Derek explained. "When I walked up to my house, that is when I heard them. Eileen and David Scott were outside my house, ready to break in and/or follow me in. The first thing I knew I had to do was get Cass out of the house. I ran in to grab her and gave her my cell phone and told her to run and call 911. She did so just as David and Eileen Scott came inside, guns drawn and pointed at my wife Meredith and I. Knowing Cass would have no one and knowing we did not want to die, we allowed them both to threaten us and force us into chairs. They then proceeded to trash our house and our possessions trying to get us to tell them where Cass was. When we did not tell them, and the police were about ready to rush in, they shot towards my wife and I, hitting my wife and missing me, before shooting themselves. Eileen was successful in killing herself, and thankfully the bastard was not."
"What about the day you found Cassandra Scott," the DA questioned. "In their home."
"They got a restraining order on my wife because she was uncovering what they were doing and tried to get them arrested for this the first time, I was fooled and played," Derek said with a scowl. "When Cass still tried to call Meredith and Meredith tried to hang up, Cass began screaming for her daddy to stop hurting her and don't hurt her. I did not hear this, but my wife did. I was adamant not to break the restraining order, but Meredith was not and rushed over, I came along to try and get her out of anything that might come with breaking the law. Of course, the restraining order was thrown out when we arrived at the house to find David and Eileen gone with their baby daughter and Cass bleeding profusely out of her stomach in her sister's nursery."
"That is all," the DA said and he watched as David Scott's lawyer approached.
"You said you were fooled and did not believe Meredith and Cass when they said David and Eileen Scott were abusing her, why is it that now you choose to change your story. You told a tale where you felt that Cass and Maeve needed a father, yet you are now taking her father away from her," Scott's lawyer accused.
"David Scott was not Cass's father," Derek said. "And I don't care what genetics say, he did not deserve her as a daughter. I-"
"Why is your wife not here to testify as well?"
"My wife is with Maeve, we became foster parents to both Cass and Maeve and once this trial severs his parental rights of both girls. One who he stabbed almost to death and the other who he starved to death," Derek growled. "My wife-"
"So you're their foster parents now, doesn't sound like she has parents now."
"Your honor he is not letting our witness answer any of his questions fully!" the DA exclaimed.
"Continue Dr. Shepherd," the judge said.
"As I was saying, my wife and I are planning on adopting Cass and Maeve, she will have two parents who love her so much more than her biological parents," Derek said confidently.
"Nothing further," the lawyer muttered.
"You may step down Dr. Shepherd," the judge said and Derek did so, glared at David Scott as he past, and exited the courtroom.
Derek walked outside the courthouse to find his three girls waiting on a bench nearby. Cass leapt from the bench and jumped into Derek's arms. He smiled and gave her a tight hug. She buried her face in his shirt, feeling a sense of security now that everything was over. She wasn't completely healed but she was on the road to a positive recovery. Meredith joined them with Maeve in her stroller. She gently pecked Derek's cheek.
"Hey guys," Derek said. "Ready for ice cream?" The family nodded and made the short walk to the ice cream parlor a couple blocks down in downtown Seattle. They got their ice cream and settled down in the park across the street. Meredith was sitting in the grass with Maeve in her lap gently bouncing the giggling baby as she finished her strawberry cone. Cass and Derek quickly finished their ice cream and began playing tag.
"Meredith, help me!" Cass giggled as Derek wrapped his arms around her and spun her in the air.
"You brought this on yourself," Mer shook her head. Cass stuck her tongue out at her just as Derek tickled her and was overcome with a squeal.
"DEREK!"
"Your sister and Derek are very silly, aren't they?" Mer asked Maeve. Maeve stuck her fingers in her mouth and looked longingly at the swings. She was not quite recovered fully from what the Scott's did to her and she was not sure if she was ready to be on a swing.
"Meredith," Cass gasped and ran up to her. "Derek just said I'm going to my team's soccer game in a week, is he just kidding me or-"
"He's not kidding sweetie, your coach and teammates are very excited," Mer said.
"REALLY! THANK YOU!" Cass exclaimed and hugged her tightly before jumping back towards Derek, now not minding being in his arms. Derek pressed a kiss to her forehead before setting her back down and challenging her to a race to the tree and back.
"Excuse me; is that your daughter and husband?" an elderly woman asked.
"Yes," Mer nodded with a smile, foster daughter, but hopefully not for long.
"You have a beautiful family." Meredith smiled, her family, something she never thought she would ever have. She kissed the top of Maeve's strawberry blond hair and cuddled her in her arms. Soon she would have three children at home and she couldn't be more excited.
One week later…
Today was the day of Cass's first soccer game since she was hospitalized. Meredith and Derek took their seats in the bleachers at the field, anxiously awaiting the beginning of the game. Maeve was home with a babysitter, it was a very windy day and plus it was right around her naptime. It was just after half time when the whistle blew again and Cass just scored the third consecutive goal of the game.
"YEAH!" Meredith screamed and jumped up.
"Way to go Cass!" Derek cheered calmly.
"We love you sweetie." Meredith echoed. Cass flushed bright red.
"I think we embarrassed her Mer." Derek said, chuckling.
"I don't care Derek our girl is on fire! She's scored three freaking goals this game! We're totally gonna win this one."
"Somebody's a little competitive." He put his shoulder around his wife.
"Somebody's not getting laid tonight," Meredith repeated mimicking his singsong tone. They had only taken their eyes of the game for a minute when they heard a whistle blow and everyone hushed. Cass was lying on the field gripping her arm while gasping and laying on her stomach. Meredith immediately went into mom mode and both her and Derek jumped up from their seats and ran down to the field.
"What happened?" Derek asked kneeling down to examine Cass. Her coach was running down the sideline with a first aid kit. "Cass can you look up here for a second?" Derek was shining his pen at her eyes to check for any brain damage the fall might have caused. She was shaking and gasping, she fell directly on her stomach and had the wind knocked out of her. Tears of fear leaked from her eyes.
"I think we've got it from here," the referee said impatiently.
"We're both doctors so I think we can handle it," Mer snapped and rubbed Cass's back gently. Without a second thought Derek scooped her up in his arms and carried her off the field. . Lauren, Cass's friend stood up leading everyone into applause for Cass. After a few minutes she managed to catch her breath but was still clutching her arm. When Meredith lightly touched her wrist, Cass winced and tried hard to hold back more tears.
"We need to get her to the hospital Mer, let's go." Derek helped Cass up and walked her across the field, his arm protectively around her.
"Good work out there Cass; sorry you got hurt we'll hopefully see you on Sunday." The coach lightly patted her back as the family exited the field and went into the parking lot. Cass was silent most of the way there and most of the way back. She only answered questions that Meredith and Derek had about her condition. She had a sprained wrist, not as bad as everyone thought and would be off of soccer for about two weeks. She wasn't grumpy and pouting as expected. When the family returned home she went straight to her room and said she wasn't feeling up to eating dinner. After Maeve was fed Meredith and Derek went up to talk to Cass. Derek knocked lightly at the door.
"Cass honey, can we come in?" They heard her covers rustle and footsteps as Cass opened the door for them to come in and then sat back in bed.
"Is everything okay Cass?" Meredith sat down on the foot of the bed and put her hand softly on her knee. "You can tell us anything your feeling, you know that right? I know it must have been scary, hurting your arm… again."
"If you want to talk about anything Meredith and I are here for you always, we know it's going to be tough-"
"You don't know anything," she sniffed. "Please leave me alone…" They knew she didn't feel this way in reality.
"Alright but when you are ready, let us know." Meredith and Derek left the room. "Do you think she's really okay?" Meredith was worried.
"I wouldn't get too worried about it. If she's not okay she will tell us, she just needs to figure everything out in her head."
"Hello?" Derek answered.
"Hello Derek, this is Melanie from child services."
"Hi Melanie, sorry we haven't gotten back to you it's been a busy month, with Maeve getting home and Cass adjusting to school and such."
"No problem, I'm only calling telling you that were done pestering you and your family. You are aware that the other day when your wife was home, someone came by to check out the house."
"Mhm hmm, she informed me when I got home from work, again, my apologies for not being there I had an emergency surgery."
"Not a problem, well I wanted to congratulate you because you passed our inspection and I wanted to personally call and let you know that the papers for the adoption of Cassandra Noelle Scott and Maeve Amelia Scott. Name change pending until the adoption is finalized of course." Derek almost dropped the phone. He was so excited he couldn't wait to tell his family.
"Thank you so much Melanie, for everything and we will get to it as soon as possible."
"Just call me and we will schedule a court hearing."
"Will do, goodbye!" Derek hung up and turned to Mer.
"What was that Derek?" Meredith questioned.
"Well," he began. "That was Melanie calling and giving me some great news."
"What is it," Cass piped up, opening her door.
"Cass, the papers are ready for you and your sister's adoption. And if you're ready and want to, we can get them signed very soon." Immediately tears sprung to her eyes and she leapt into Meredith's arms.
"Oh Cass, I'm sorry we didn't mean to upset you." Cass started to laugh which puzzled both.
"I'm crying because I'm so happy! I finally have everything I've ever wanted now that Mae is back! I can't wait to be a Shepherd!" Derek wrapped his arm around both of them and wanted to wake Maeve up just to celebrate, but Mer had a different idea.
"Now that we got this news, we have something else we need to talk about," Meredith said, walking into Cass's room and sitting down on her bed. She looked at her closely. "What was this afternoon about?" Cass looked down.
"I never wanted to have to go to the ER again, I got hurt in the way my Mom and Dad always made an excuse, I'm clumsy and fell in soccer," Cass whispered.
"But for the first time it is true, it's not an excuse," Derek said.
"I know, but it makes me feel… I don't know," Cass huffed.
"It makes you feel the same as it did, we understand Cass. No one likes to go to the hospital for any reason, and you had to go way more often than anyone should," Meredith brushed her hair off her face. You weren't safe back then, but now you are. You may still get hurt because, you kick butt at soccer. You're amazing and I am not just saying that because I am biased."
"If you didn't get hurt once in a while, we'd probably have to talk to your coach about moving you up," Derek teased. "Sometimes it won't be a sprained wrist, sometimes it will just be a scratch. Sometimes it might be worse. But what it will never be again is an intentional injury against you."
"I know that," Cass whimpered. "But I want the feeling to go away."
"I wish it could be that easy, but it won't be… Maeve won't remember all of this, but you will. You had to survive eight years too many in that house and you are traumatized from it," Derek continued. "One day the feelings will fade. Along with the scars and the memories."
"When?" Cass asked.
"I don't know, I wish we did but we don't, but for now, you can come to us with anything you are feeling," Meredith said. "You can let us know how to help, if we can help, and just know that we love you so much and would never hurt you."
"Okay, I will," Cass rested her head on Meredith's chest.
"Now, how about we go wake up Maeve and then call Cristina, Izzie, and-"
"Everyone! Can I do it!" she said excitedly. "Please."
"You can talk to everyone, of course you can," Derek said. "But do remember what Mark said."
"I'm stuck with them too," Cass giggled. "And I don't care! I can rub it in his face that he's stuck with me too!"
"Well I'm sure Lexie doesn't mind," Mer joked. "But good luck with Mark, he may move back to New York or something."
"He would never do that, he loves me now too," Cass grinned cheekily. "I mean, who wouldn't love me." Suddenly she frowned. Derek scooped her up and pressed a kiss to her nose.
"No one I can think that matters," he whispered and Cass erupted in another smile as Meredith emerged with an alert Maeve and the family headed down stairs to call their extended family and share the wonderful news.
Happiness, always a good thing lol! Keep reading and keep reviewing, we love feedback! Thanks!