Chapter 12: Zola's graduation

Tomorrow is my eldest daughters high school graduation and I'm not ready for her to graduate yet. Granted I never knew her when she was minutes or even hours old but she is still my baby and as a mother of now 9 children letting go is hard as I can't let go of Zola yet. Derek seems to be okay with it but I'm not. Ya I have eight other children who will graduate but with the first one it's hard because in a few years I could be a Grammy even if my youngest are still in pull ups. "Mom have you seen my cords for my graduation tomorrow" asked Zola. "No baby I do t believe I have." I told her. "Well here it is my cheerleading cord, my nursing cord, my high honors cord, and my musical cord." She told me. "Wow Zola those are a lot of cords for things you did in high school I said to here.

I'm proud of my daughter with everything she has done in fact she was brave a few weeks ago when she had to have surgery for her tonsils. Actually all my children are brave. I just hope that it doesn't rain tomorrow or I can't see her graduation the only ones who could would be Derek, Bailey, Lexie, Ellis, and Hannah. I know that indoor graduations are unfair to those that have a big family. When I was graduating high school a friend of mine who I haven't seen in YEARS had like 12 siblings and was basically raising them because her father was a drunk and her mother was in angel in the ground. Amanda was a great person I ever wonder what happened to her.

When we were at dinner Ellis and Lexie were talking about how proud they are to be Zola's sisters and to be Derek Shepherds daughters. Our children respect their father and I for many things. They were raised well unlike certain people like Peter Jones Lexie's boyfriend. "Mom what's wrong you seem quite" asked 7 of my children who could talk. "Oh it's nothing guys I'm just sad and thinking of all the fun times I've had with you guys growing up and I just can't think of a time when you were babies because you grew up to fast." I told them "Mamma I love you so much but I wish I wouldn't have to lose my oldest sister because she graduated from high school." Said Luke. "Oh Luke I'm not going to leave you not ever you're my baby brother and that's never going to change just like Bailey, Lexie, Ellis, Hannah Amelia, Tyler, and Elizabeth." She told him. After dinner we all played charades. It was actually fun it took my mind off of the depressing moment that was about to happen in 12 hours.

When I woke up it was 9:15 I slept through the alarm and needed to get ready for the graduation in 45 minutes. Luckily it was a beautiful sunny day so all 11 of us could watch Zola walk across that stage and be extremely proud of the graduation ceremony we herd all the scholarships that the students were reviving. Zola had 6 scholarships for Washington University which is located here in the big city of Seattle. I was a proud mother and realize that even being a doctor and having different schedules from my children I was still there world. When Zola was getting ready they were introducing the students. "Zola Grey Shepherd is the adopted daughter of Dr. Meredith Grey and Dr. Derek has eight other siblings Bailey Shepherd this years homecoming king, Lexie our winter carnival princess, Ellis our homecoming princess, Hannah who is going to joining SHS in the fall, Luke, Amelia his twin sister named after Amelia Shepherd, Tyler her adorable little baby brother, and Tyler's twin her adorable baby sister Elizabeth. She was our prom queen, homecoming queen, valedictorian, and the captain of the Zola you did it. Zola is going to be attending Washington university in the fall for nursing to get her RN as she decided she wants to be a nurse instead of a doctor. Give a big hand for Zola." Said the principal. It was one proud mamma moment to have such a wonderful daughter. "Wow I had know idea Zola was in so much for High School" said Hannah. "Yes she was and next year you can do some of the things that she did." I told my daughter. Hannah is nervous about high school because she was too smart for her actual age range Hannah is actually supposed to be in the eighth grade but is going to be a freshman.

After graduation we celebrated and the family was happy. I could see who Zola's friends were and she didn't have to leave her own house to be with them as they were her her siblings. Derek and I are proud to have adopted her 18 years ago when we though we couldn't have children and we ended up with nine beautiful children who are friends with each other. Tyler and Elizabeth are her friends too even if they are just babies. The Shepherd friendship is a friendship that will last a live time. Motherhood is awesome I don't know who I'd be without my precious kids.

A/N: so here is Zola's graduation I love writing this and I can't wait to finish the next chapter for you which I will try to post tomorrow if I don't it won't be until Sunday night. Reviews are wonderful especially if there's something you think would be cool to see the kids do with Meredith and Derek. The next five chapters are going to be about their summer vacation.