Thank you for your reviews on previous chapter (actually all previous chapters)! Please, keep them coming! Hope you enjoy this.
Chapter 8: Bumps in the road
Amelia's POV:
With the ring on your finger and your fioncé by your side (and the baby in your belly of course) you can't help it, you feel amazing. But being so happy, there's still this fear the other shoe's just about to drop. You are also hopeful Derek might be able to attend the wedding, because he is so much better these days. It is a little heartbreaking or rather bittersweet though. You and Meredith both tried to ask him about his legs a couple of times, but without much success. You figured out he had some medical knowledge stored inside him, because the brain scans in his room really seemed familiar to him. He once pointed at them and told Meredith: "My head."
The other time when you were in the room with him he pointed at the scans and said: "I did this."
"Yes brother, you really did," you nodded not knowing whether to be happy or sad about it. And when he later asked you: "Can I see my spine scan?" your heart literally broke because you realized what he wanted to look for. You all suspect it and you know he does too. Hell, he is the one to actually feel – or rather not feel – it.
Now you and Mer are both sitting on the sofa in Derek's room with him now, playing a simple board game, the kids asleep on the bed and just like that Derek starts speaking "I'm..." he's looking for the right word. "Paralyzed, aren't I?" You've seen his CT and MRI scans and his X-rays. He doesn't feel sensation in his legs. It's safe to say he's right. „I'm sorry Derek. You are," you confirm. Meredith chimes in: "Well, your legs are. So you're...paraplegic," she sniffs a little.
"Paraplegic..." Derek repeats slowly, remembering the word. "I guess it's better than being dead."
Something about his statement amazes both you and Mer and she just pulls him into a hug. You both know the fully conscious Derek (or Derek from Before because he really is almost fully conscious now, he expresses more and more coherent thoughts and feelings) would just be full of grief, going through its 5 stages. The new Derek just moves to acceptance, it seems. He brushes the top of Meredith's head with his lips, almost like he's kissing it and you feel happy tears well in your eyes.
Meredith's POV:
You are almost 15 weeks along when you are forced to ask Owen for easier hours at the hospital. You are beginning your second trimester which is generally good, but you experience one symptom that wasn't quite this bad during you pregnancy with Bailey and it makes you really uncomfortable. As your uterus expands and your body is stretching to accommodate it plus the added weight you're carrying, the supporting ligaments in your abdomen grow as well and it often causes sharp pains and dull aches. It's seriously a lot more uncomfortable than it ever was with Bailey. It strikes whenever you change positions fast, cough, sneeze or laugh. Often also when you walk. You even bought a belly band to give your growing bump more support.
Today you come to Derek's room in the rehab center and he greets you: "Hi Mer." It's great. It's amazing. It's better than he used to say a few days ago. You walk closer to the bed and he shifts closer to you, stretching his arms. You don't remember a time in his coma he initiated a hug. And you feel like melting in his arms completely when he gives you a quick peck at the corner of your lips. It's not a full-mouth kiss, but it's the closest thing since his accident. When he pulls away he is smiling and then he eyes the hand you brought on the top of your growing baby bump. You love the father of your children so much.
...
Amelia's POV:
You and Meredith bump into each other in the hallway of he house with your...bumps. You chuckle and she does too. She glances at the mirror. "You are finally bigger than me," she laughs. You are 17 weeks along now, she is 16 weeks. "You wish!" you reply, but you truly feel big these days. Today is the day of your amniocentesis. You are scared like hell, but at least you will know and maybe that stone will fall down from your heart.
And really, as if the baby wanted to remind you it might all just be okay, later that day when you are walking to the cafeteria to eat your lunch, you feel the flutters in your belly. You don't see Owen at lunch because of the trauma brought in, but later when you meet at the OB/GYN's office for the amniocentesis, you are finally smiling. Owen seems relieved, but curious what could possibly make you happy. You kiss him, take his hand and place it on the lower part of your baby bump where you feel the flutters.
"Do you feel it?"
"Wow," he exhales.
...
"The result of the amniocentesis will be in tomorrow. Everything else looks in order. Now the big question – do you want to find out the sex of the baby?" your OB/GYN Rena asks.
You and Owen look at each other and then nod simultaneously. "Yeah, tell us," you say.
"Well, it looks like you're having a little boy."
Your first emotion is heartbreak because of Christopher. But then a thousand other emotions come flooding in and in the end you're so happy and thanking God. You love your boys so much. You bury your head in Owen's shoulder and cry happy tears.
Meredith's POV:
Derek's speech is really improving and you think in a few more weeks or months he will be such a sweettalker as before. His speech therapist advised you to find a few topics of his interest and try to build uncomplicated conversations around them. You watch the TV Seattle news together and you're not sure how much of it Derek actually comprehends. Although when you see a ferryboat there, it's an amazing opportunity. You freeze the picture and turn to Derek, beaming. "Derek, do you remember ferryboats?" He looks at you for a while comprehending what you said, he flicks his gaze at TV and then he nods. "I...yes, I like."
"I hope we can ride a ferryboat together again soon. What about you, do you want to go?" you ask. You two are sitting on the bed side by side. "Yes."
"It will be great I think. I'm really looking forward to going with you."
"Yeah...I went...with Mark."
"I didn't see you for a long time my friend. Good times."
"I'm happy to see you too."
"No you aren't,"
(Mark and Derek, chapter 6)
Wow...so that must have been a long time ago. You think Derek talking about Mark is sad, but still amazing. It means he remembers his best friend and the things they used to do. Though you'd think Derek would associate ferryboats with you, after all you two used to ride them together a lot more than he and Mark. Of course, you don't really know much about their ferryboat riding when they were younger, but it's still a little weird.
Derek's gaze is still fixed on the TV and you unfreeze the news. He doesn't say anything other, but you're really curious.
"Dear, when did you ride a ferryboat with Mark?"
"It didn't really happen."
What? What does it mean? Did Derek dream about it? Did he have some kind of vision just like you had when you were unconscious after Derek pulled you out of Elliot Bay?
You look out of the window and you see the spring sun shining. „Derek, do you want to go outside?" you ask happily, hoping he might tell you some more later. He just nods, you help him put on the sweater and jacket and move to the wheelchair. Then you push him outside and decide to take a walk in the park near the rehab center. You are rubbing Derek's shoulder affectionately and he puts his hand on yours. You try to get some more out of him, but without much success.
At one point you even ask: "Derek, did you dream about being on a ferryboat with Mark after..." you squeeze your eyes painfully, "after the truck hit you?" When you adress him, you stop pushing the wheelchair, you walk in front of him and look into his eyes so he fully understands you want the information from him. But he has so many thoughts he cannot sort and he doesn't really have the mental capacity to carry on with the conversation.
"Going back to her is worth anything."
"You can do this. Meredith is waiting for you."
(Derek, Mark, chapter 6)
He doesn't say anytjing but puts his hand on your face and wipes the stray tear away from your cheek. You almost tear up again.
That's it for now. I know it's short, but I really wanted to at least give you an update. Please, share any opinions or suggestions you have.