"Hey Steph."

"Mer do you want to bring the kids out for lunch and catch up?"

"Yeah sure."

"Okay how about the café with the kid's room. Dump the kids in the play room."

"Sounds like a plan." Meredith says laughing. "12 o'clock."

"Great. See you then."

"You too." She says hanging up the phone.

"Are we going to see Sam?"

"Yes we are. We are going out for lunch to that new café that opened with the kid's room."

"I have wanted to go there mummy."

"Well it's your chance today." She tells her. "We are meeting Steph at 12."

"What time is it now?"

"Here you try and tell me." Meredith says holding her watch in front of Kaylee.

"Is that the 10?"

"Yes 10…"

"30?"

"Yeah it is baby. How else can you say it?"

"Half past 10?"

"Very good baby. How long do we have?"

"Um an hour?"

"An hour and a half." Meredith says. "You don't learn time until you are older."

"I'm just getting a head start."

"Yes you are." Meredith says. "Go and play sweetie. Enjoy your childhood."

She runs off and Meredith finishes up with the baby shower plan for Steph.

Meredith, Kaylee and Cooper head to the café. They find Steph inside sitting with the kids waiting.

"Hey sorry we're late. Had to change his nappy."

"No that is fine. Kids do you want to go in and play?"

"Yes please Stephy."

"Ok I'll go book you in." Steph says.

"No Steph I will."

"Meredith you sit and stay. I need to go to the toilet anyway."

"Ok."

Meredith sits with Cooper and goes and grabs a highchair for him and starts feeding him lunch. Steph comes back and sits down.

"How are the babies going?"

"Yeah they are good. Doctor says they are doing great but she says that I should slow down."

"Which is true. You could go into preterm labour."

"Well I have two kids under the age of 4 who are active. I can't sit around and not play with them."

"You can drop the off at day care or their grandparents place."

"I want to spend time with them before the triplets are born because then all our time will be taken up with the triplets and we won't be spending a lot of time with Sam and Zo. I have to do this."

"Ok well at least slow down for the sake of the triplets."

"Fine I will."

"Thank you."

"God you are a good at winning discussions. Glad I'm never the person sleeping beside you in bed."

"Well Derek is used to it. We are pretty competitive."

"I don't need to know that."

"Well it's true. His sisters are very competitive and Derek happened to get that streak. I got it from my mother."

"You two are made for each other."

"Maybe we are maybe we are not. We just get each other."

"I see."

"Do you want to order?"

"Yes that would be good. I am eating for 4 you know."

"You shouldn't actually eat for that many. You will gain a lot of weight."

"Well my doctor said to eat for 2 because I am burning off a lot of energy carrying the triplets, doing the housework and chasing after Sam and Zoe."

"I ate for 2 throughout my whole pregnancy with Cooper."

"Boys are like that. I was the same with Sam. I tried to eat for just myself but I burnt a lot of calories and had a lot more cravings."

"You didn't put much weight on afterwards did you?"

"No only 20 kilos." Steph says. "You were stick thin after you delivered Cooper. I came into the hospital and it seemed as though you were a normal person your age. You barely had that post baby bump."

"I know but with Kaylee I did. I was so self-conscious. With Cooper though people would give me looks because they couldn't believe that I had just had a baby."

"You were really active though throughout the pregnancy weren't you?"

"Yeah I went for morning walks with Kaylee. Took the dog for a walk. Swimming. I was all for exercise. Kaylee thought it was good because she got to ride her bike to the park and I would be pushing her on the swings and things like that."

"You didn't crave as much though did you?"

"No I just always felt like walking or getting outside. Up to my final week I was still walking and it was the middle of winter."

"Well those photos of you are the beach in your bikini you definitely have a bikini body. I would never believe that 9 months ago you push out a baby boy who was almost 9lbs."

"I know that's what the girls said to me. They were shocked at my post baby body."

"Breast feeding, weight loss champion." Steph says.

"Oh it really is." Meredith says. "Though after I had Cooper I wasn't all that into exercise. Yeah I got my exercise pushing the double pram but I didn't feel like walking to the park."

"Yeah well he was born in winter. It is always too cold to take a newborn baby to the park in the pouring rain and the snow."

"Kaylee though I took her walking to the park, to Carolyn's house. To Cristina's. Even to the local shop 3 blocks over. I got into shape but I wasn't going to med school then."

"I loved taking Sam on walks especially when he was old enough to sit in his little bike that you push."

"Oh yes Kaylee and Sam the bike buddies. Cristina gave them that name."

"They were so cute though. They would just sit and blabber to each other while we blabbered to each other."

"I don't think I told you this but Kaylee said to the crew of the concert that she is going to marry Sam."

"Hey ever since I delivered Sam it was destined to happen."

"I know." Meredith says. "So lunch?"

"Yeah we got side tracked." Steph says. "I'll go ask the kids what they want and order. What do you want?"

"The chicken burger sounds good."

"And drink?"

"Water will do." She says. "I'm just going to go and get his pram from the car when you get back."

"Ok."

Meredith waits for Steph to come back and when she does she goes to get the pram from the car. She comes back inside seeing Steph holding Cooper and swaying him side to side. Meredith goes to say something but Steph stops her indicating that she is getting him to sleep. Meredith organises the pram and a blanket to cover it when he finally falls asleep.

"The 2 waters, the lemonade and the jug of juice?" The waitress asks.

"Yes." Steph says quietly. "Thank you."

Steph finally gets him to sleep and lays him down in the pram and Meredith covers it so he can have some privacy.

"I was going to put him to sleep."

"He was about to fall asleep waiting for you. I just helped him."

"Ok well if you lay him in the pram he usually goes to sleep but your way helped."

"Let's talk baby shower."

"Oh yes well you only wanted it low key compared to Nancy's. Don't get me started on Nancy's. Anyway just have an afternoon tea with coffee, tea, cakes, sandwiches and a few games and it will all be over in a few hours."

"Sounds good."

"Colours I thought neutral but because you know that it is 2 girls and a boy I chose the neutral colours for decorations and invitations. So I went yellow for the invites but for the decorations it was yellow and green galore."

"It sounds good."

"You just pick the foods you want and we can organise who does what?"

"Well for my cake can you do the ABC thing? I think people will get a kick out of it if they know what we mean."

"I wouldn't have thought of that. What icing and type of cake."

"Chocolate cake all the way with yellow icing and for the ABC's go Pink, Blue and Purple."

"Do you want anything else on there?"

"No just the ABC's."

"Well I like that idea but can I show you a picture of one I found online. I think it's kind of cute."

Steph nods her head and Meredith shows her a picture of the cake.

"Instead of the one set of baby legs you could go three and have the ABC's on each of the diapers and have those colours and people might understand it."

"Hey that is a good idea. I really like this cake. Make sure they make it chocolate."

"I will."

"Thank god because you can't go by chocolate cake."

"Here are your burgers. The rest should be out in a minute."

"I'll go and get the kids." Steph says.

"No you won't. I'll get them." Meredith says.

"You have to beat me." She says getting up from the booth quicker than Meredith.

"Stephanie Baxter you are a pain in the arse." Meredith calls after her.

Steph shows her a grin and gathers the kids and brings the back to the table.

"Here are the rest of your meals."

"Thank you."

"Eat up kids." Meredith says to them.

"Can I have a drink mummy?"

"Sure Kay."

Meredith pours drinks out for the kids and the all tuck in for their lunch.

"Mummy can we go on after we finish our lunch?" Sam asks.

"Sure Sam. You will just have to let your lunch settle though."

"Ok mummy."

"Besides Mer and I have to discuss the baby shower a little more."

"Ok mummy." Sam says.

"Is lunch good?" Meredith asks.

"It's a little hot." Kaylee says.

"Let it cool. Try not to guts yourself either."

"But mummy we want to go and play."

"You know you have to wait a little while to go play again so it doesn't matter how long you take."

"Ok." She says.

After lunch they let the kids play again and instead or organising the baby shower they talked about the trip away and the glares they received from parents at the water park.

"That's what happens when your friends don't have kids and you are a young mum. You are still experiencing the good in life and you are experimenting. Those parents probably have had their experimental days 10 years earlier and they know what it is like to be our age. Well they should at least."

"I get what you mean."

"Yeah so why can't they just cut us some slack."

"Well it was a kind of inappropriate place to talk about it." Steph says. "You were surrounded by children."

"We made sure we didn't talk about it when the kids were around anyway. I think some people shouldn't eavesdrop."

"Yeah that would be a good thing because then gossiping would stop."

"But gossiping is fun. Derek says that gossip is the only thing that spreads through the hospital faster than the flu."

"Do you think people are going to gossip about you when you start as an intern?"

"Maybe but that's life. I'll just stand up to them all."

"I know you would. I hear that you always stand up for yourself. That's one of the reasons you were shot back in high school."

"Who told you that story?"

"Izzie. "

"Izzie did protect me. She jumped in front of a bullet for me just so my baby would survive and she did. Look at her now she is 4 years old."

"You have had a crappy life but look at how great you have turned those things around."

"Yeah." Meredith says looking at the pram.

"So how about we get the kids and go back to my place for tea and some cake. I made a cake this morning and I wanted to share it with someone."

"Ok then." Meredith says.

They pay for lunch and grab the kids. Meredith follows Steph back to her place. They head inside and Meredith has an awake Cooper with her. The kids run around outside and Meredith sits down and starts feeding Cooper.

"Here you go."

"Thank you." Meredith says.

The two sat in the kitchen talking and Meredith finished feeding Cooper. She had him on her lap.

"Mummy Zo fell over and she hurt her knee." Sam says coming inside with Kaylee and Zoe.

"Come her Zo." Steph says holding her arms out to her and placing her on the chair. "Oh it will be okay. I will put a Band-Aid on it and it will be all better."

"Can I have a pink Band-Aid?"

"Of course Zo." Steph says going to the medicine cabinet.

Meredith watches as she reaches up back her body retracts the other way and her hands come around her stomach.

"Ouch." She says.

"Steph what's wrong?" Meredith asks getting up off the chair.

"I think the babies are coming."

"I have to take you to the hospital."

"Mummy what's going on?" Sam asks worried.

"Nothing baby. I just have to go to the hospital to make sure that the babies aren't ready to be born because they aren't."

"Steph sit down. I will call your OB." Meredith says. "What's her number?"

"It's in my phone."

Meredith finds the number and calls.

"Yes I am calling on behalf of Steph Baxter. She is starting to have contractions. Bring her in. Ok I will." Meredith says hanging up the phone.

"Steph we are going to the hospital." Meredith says. "Kids come on we have to go."

Meredith holds Cooper and grabs the keys to Steph's car. She grabs Steph's handbag and they go and get in the car. The seating arrangements were a mess but Meredith didn't have time to get the car seats from her car. She places Cooper in Zoe's seat and Zoe in Sam's and Kaylee and Sam jump in the other spare seats.

"Ok you call Dan and let him know what is going on." Meredith says.

"He is in an important meeting."

"If you text him 911 then to call you he will call you back urgently. The business partners will understand."

Steph waits for the call and Dan finally calls back.

"What is it Steph."

"Meet me at the hospital. I am having contractions. I think I have gone into early labour."

"I will be there in a matter of seconds. Just hold on."

Meredith gets her to the hospital and pulls into emergency and is met by the OB they bring a gurney over to the car and help her in.

"I will go and park the car and bring the kids straight up."

"Don't let them watch me in pain."

"I won't." Meredith says.

She goes and parks and gets the kids out of the car and races inside to the maternity ward.

"They have taken her up to delivery 3."

"Ok." Meredith says going to go and see her but she stops after remembering what Steph told her. "I'll stay down here until her husband comes."

Meredith gets the kids seated.

"Mer will my mum be ok?" Sam asks.

"Of course. It is just a precaution you take when you start having cramps especially if you are early like your mum is."

"So the babies won't be born today?"

"Hopefully not. They need to be inside her tummy for a few more months to be healthy babies."

"I still can't believe that she is going to have 3 babies. I am going to get 3 new siblings." Sam says.

"I know, isn't that exciting?"

"Yeah it really is." Sam says. I have gotten 4 new siblings in 2 years."

"That is always good isn't it?"

He just nods his head.

"Mummy do you have the pack of cards in your bag?"

Meredith searches through her handbag. "Yes I do. What are you going to play?"

"Go fish."

"Ok." Meredith says. "I am going to make a call kids. Just stay there."

Meredith leaves the kids and walks over towards the nurses' station where she has direct contact with the kids she dials Steph's parents to let them know what is going on considering they are going to have to most likely look after the kids.

"Hi it's Meredith, Steph's friend."

"Yes Meredith I remember you. What's up dear?"

"We think that Steph has gone into preterm labour. I had to bring her to the hospital. I am here now with Sam and Zoe and my two. I just thought I would let you know."

"We will be right down dear."

"Okay see you soon." Meredith says hanging up the phone. She goes and sits back down on the chairs and sees Dan run to the nurses' station.

"Dan." Meredith calls out.

"Oh where is she?"

"Delivery 3."

"Thank you." He says running off again.

"Is daddy ok?" Zoe asks.

"Yeah he is just a bit stressed, that is all." Meredith says sitting down at the table. "Your nan and pop are on their way over."

"Ok."

Meredith plays with Cooper and watches the kids.

It was an hour later, Eileen and Frank arrived 30 minutes earlier and sat with Mer in the waiting room. Dan came down to the waiting room.

"What's going on?"

"They have stopped her contractions and placed her on bed rest. She has to be on bed rest for at least another 3 weeks."

"Is she ok?"

"Yeah she is a little shaken up. We told her to slow down because of the risks and she just didn't listen."

"It's Steph." Eileen says.

"She wants to see you Meredith."

"Ok." She says. "Can you hold him please?"

"Of course dear." Eileen says taking Cooper from Meredith. Eileen reminded Meredith of another Carolyn. She was so sweet and caring.

Meredith went to Steph's room. She had the monitor connected to her stomach and an IV. Steph was on her left hand side with her back to the door. Meredith came over to her side and sat in front of her. She ran her hand over Steph's sweaty forehead.

"I should have slowed down."

"Steph it is fine. You were doing your job as a mum. You were getting a Band-Aid."

"Still my babies were almost born premature because of it."

"Steph you are what 30 weeks?"

"31."

"For triplets the high chances of surviving outside the womb is about 34-35 weeks. Some babies are born 12 weeks early and still survive. You carried them this far. You just need you rest now and you should carry them for a few extra weeks. They will reach their 35 mark."

"Thank you Mer."

"No worries."

"I was so scared."

"It's a scary thing."

"I guess you should listen to the doctors or things like this happen."

"Everyone does these things. When I was pregnant I told someone to jump in front of a bus and she comes to school the next day and tries to shoot me." Meredith says. "We are human. We make mistakes."

"I'm stuck here at the hospital. It is going to drive me mad."

"I'll make Derek drop by every day to check on you."

"That's going to make me go even madder."

"I should take offence to that."

"But you won't I know that drill." Steph says.

"Anyway you rest up. I will drop by in a few days."

"Ok Mer."

Meredith kisses her forehead and leaves the room.

"Mer what are you doing here?" Richard asks.

"Steph went into preterm labour. They had to stop the contractions."

"Is she ok?"

"Yeah just bed rest for 3 weeks."

"How are the kids?"

"Yeah they are with their grandparents."

"What about your kids?"

"They are with Steph's parents."

"Ok well I was headed home. Do you need a lift?"

"Yeah that would be nice. To Steph's house so I can get my car."

"Yeah ok we will sneak by."

Richard drops her off at the house and she gets her car and drives back to the hospital.

"Mer what are you doing here?" Derek asks.

"Steph went into preterm labour. I brought her here."

"Are you headed home?"

"Yeah I'm getting the kids and going home."

"I'll come up then with you."

Derek goes with her to the maternity waiting room. They say goodbye to everyone and go home.

"Yeah so she is on bed rest until 34 weeks."

"It's one of those simple things that they tell you to do but you don't listen."

"Yeah well she was being a mother. She went to get a Band-Aid for Zoe and the contractions started. You can't fault her for that."

"No you can't."

"I told her you would drop in everyday to see how she is."

"What did she saw to that?"

"She will go madder."

"That's offensive."

"Oh Derek." Meredith says patting his cheek "She has a point." Meredith says with a grin. "Take me to bed." She says to him after kissing his lips softly.

Sorry about the delay. I have had a billion things pile up on me and didn't get the opportunity to update. Hopefully you enjoyed that chapter.

I also have been considering with the amount of reviews I've been getting to cut the story short at Cooper's first birthday. I wasn't planning to but if you would like it to go on and continue to my original plans then let me know so I know. This story has so much furtherer to go and more things to happen.

Let me know your thoughts so I can decide on what will happen with this story.