Derek walked with Ally holding his hand and knocked on the front door of Meredith's house before his palm rubbed Ally's head, "now remember what we talked about Ally-"
The door opened before Derek could finish and Mia emerged into the sunlight with one hand holding her head, "oh hey what's up" she mumbled when her eyes came to focus.
"We came to visit you" Derek said with an emphatic face, "how you feeling?"
"Sick."
"We brought you this" Ally lifted up a cup of hot chocolate, "so you can feel better."
"Aw thanks bumblebee" Mia said as she took a big sip, "and thanks mr Shepherd."
Derek cast an eye to the stairs, "Meredith still asleep?"
"Yeah" Mia said as she took another sip before making a hand gesture, "you guys can come in you know you practically live here already, doc" Mia yelled to the balcony, "you got guests."
"Derek" Meredith emerged from her bedroom and looked from the top of the rails before coming downstairs in her pyjamas her smile breaking through like the dawn outside, "hey."
"Hey yourself" Derek replied as he gave Meredith a hug and a kiss. When Meredith pulled away she turned to smile at Mia, "you missed a fun night after you left."
"Fun for the doc" Mia muttered as she continued to rub her sore head.
"Well that's why we came here" Derek said as he took Ally's hand in his own, "we thought the best cure for a hangover would be a walk up a mountain."
Meredith quickly smiled to hide the cold shiver running down her spine, "well I think the best cure for a hangover is rest and relaxation."
"Nah i'm in" Mia said as she rubbed her eyes and grabbed a brush from the hallway mirror to comb the knots out of her hair, "i'm cool for a bushwalk."
"Are you sure your up for it" Meredith said partly out of concern for Mia and partly out of fear for herself being dragged into another murderous bushwalk.
"Yeah i'm game" Mia replied, "hey you should come to doc."
"No I should not" Meredith quickly said, "mountains and me don't mix."
"Well Ally really enjoyed walking with you the last time" Derek added and Ally nodded with a wide smile as she added, "please Meredith please."
"Noah could you come down" Meredith called and Noah appeared a few seconds later in a pair of pyjamas, "yes mommy?"
"Do you want to do something fun today."
"We're going hiking Noah" Ally called out.
Noah grinned and flew down the stairs to jump in Derek's arms, "we're going hiking."
"Yep" Derek said as he spun Noah around enjoying the little boy's laughs before he rubbed Noah's hair, "me Ally you and Mia are going hiking and we're just trying to persuade your mom to come along with us as well."
"Come on mommy" Noah jumped down from Derek's arms and up into Meredith's arms, "please."
"Peer pressure doc you might as well give in" Mia said.
Meredith gritted her teeth, "alright alright."
Two hours later
Meredith lifted a heavy bag onto her shoulders as she turned to stare at Derek, "why did I allow you to teach my son to love everything outdoors."
"Well if I didn't do that" Derek replied feigning innocence, "he would probably grow up to be glued to a tablet.'
"At least if he was we wouldn't have to go hiking."
"How can you not like hiking look around at the scenery, the birds and the fresh air and all you can think about is being indoors."
"When I look at all this I think about the burn in my legs, the sweat that's already starting to form on my forehead and the excitement of looking forward to having an ache in my back."
"Meredith" Derek lifted his backpack on to one of his big shoulders, "if your struggling with your backpack let me carry-"
"No i'm going to carry it" Meredith snapped.
"Meredith if its causing you pain than let me take it for a while my backpack is quite light." Derek spotted a large container poking out from the top of Meredith's backpack, "what did you put in this backpack anyway?"
"Everything we may need."
"You don't need to put such a big first aid kit in here, this looks like it weighs a ton."
"I'm a doctor Derek when someone out in the bush gets injured I need to be prepared to help them."
"Well" Derek took the large kit out of the bag, "I think we should put this in the car because carrying this is going to hurt you."
"Fine" Meredith snapped again, "but if any of the kids gets hurt you will never hear the end of it from me."
"Meredith" Derek sighed as he put the kit in the boot, "Mia's only with us for a few more days can we try not to argue in front of her so she can leave us with some happy memories."
Meredith stopped her grumbling for a moment and felt blue thinking about what might happen in a few days, "okay lets call a truce."
"Truce" Derek said before he gave Meredith a kiss.
"Hey" Mia called as she came wandering back, "if you guys are finished playing tonsil hockey can we get going the little ones are getting bored."
"Sorry" Derek said, "we're coming."
"Hey" Mia shrugged with a smirk, "I don't care if you snog until it gets dark but the rugrats sent me to see what's keeping their parents." Derek and Meredith exchanged grins and wandered hand in hand to find Ally grumbling and Noah looking at the birds, "where have you been" Ally said loudly.
"They were just having a snog" Mia answered.
"What's a snog" Noah asked.
"We were just doing a bit of kissing mate" Derek replied.
"Oh."
"You can kiss when you get home come on" Ally said as she jumped to her feet, "lets go." They pushed on as a group and reached the top of the mountain and Meredith barely able to breath collapsed on the rocks as Derek looked on at the surroundings, "you can see all of Seattle."
"Yeah" Mia said as she looked, "its amazing hey look you can see the ocean from here."
"Its magical" Ally said with her eyes wide, Noah extended his arms for Derek to pick him up, "its just like the time we went camping."
"Yeah mate it is, except this time Mia came along with us."
"Even better" Noah stated as Mia smiled in embarrassment and they heard a loud groan behind them as they grinned, "hey dude" Mia said, "should we perform cpr."
"No" Meredith said as forced herself to her feet as everyone chuckled and Mia came to run a hand on the back of Meredith's head, "dude I was kidding."
"I should hope so though I almost feel ready for cpr."
The following night
The thunder echoed outside awakening Meredith from her sleep she blinked and looked at the rain as it started to fall on the window and after listening to the thunder for a few more minutes she rolled over on to her sore shoulder to close her eyes then she opened her eyes again as she heard a different sound. Meredith listened again and realising it was loud crying from far away forgot about the pain in her body as she quickly jumped out of bed, flew downstairs and opening the door to the guest room saw Mia with her eyes closed wailing and thrashing on the bed in her sleep. Meredith ran to the bedside and placed her hand on Mia's shoulders just as Mia opened her eyes and yelled, "don't fucking touch me."
"Mia its me" Meredith whispered as she turned on the light, "you've had a nightmare, your alright its alright."
Mia sat up breathing heavily, Meredith placed her cool palm on Mia's cheek feeling tears as Mia sobbed for a few long painful moments before she looked ahead her eyes locked onto Meredith's kind eyes, "Meredith."
"Sweetheart its ok, its alright it was a nightmare that's all."
"Fuck...it felt so real."
"Tell me what happened."
"Harley was pulling off my clothes he had a knife to my throat and" Mia stopped talking as she looked down and Meredith sat on the bed her eyes locked on Mia's face, "Mia you can tell me anything, you know that don't you?"
"I..."
"Mia if your having nightmares bottling them up inside you will just make it worse, talking about them does help. You've told me your biggest secret already of you and Ally being sisters and you've told me about living on the street and being forced to do crime, you can tell me anything."
Mia took a few deep breaths and looked away towards the door as she spoke, "they not only made me do crimes like stealing and stuff they also told me to hurt people" Mia let out a cry, "to put guns in their faces until they gave me money."
"Honey."
"Meredith I held guns to people's face and they were begging me not to kill them." Mia sobbed, "I can still hear them crying inside my head, every day I wake up and I can hear it."
"Mia you may have done that in the past but the important thing is you didn't kill anyone."
"No but-"
"But nothing you were forced to do those things and its now in the past, believe me it will get easier" Meredith put an arm around Mia's shoulders, "but for it to get easier I think you need to go back to counselling."
"Courtney and Steven they just said to the police that I was a problem kid whose parents had died, they said my mom and dad dying had traumatised me that's why I have been doing crime for the last four years. When I refused to do something Courtney would yell and spit on my face and Steven would twist my arm backwards. punch me in the stomach and..."
"Sweetheart" Mia whispered.
"And they locked me in their dark cellar pushing food through a hatch... sometimes I was there for days."
Meredith was trying so hard not to look as horrified as she felt, "and who's Harley?"
"Courtney sold me to him, she told me to have sex with him for money I said no and Harley tried to he... I managed to get him off me before he did anything and then I ran... I ran away from home... to find Ally."
Meredith felt overwhelmed with emotion she couldn't hold back any longer, "i'm so sorry Mia" she whispered as she drew Mia into a tight embrace.
Mia closed her eyes, "I had nightmares for weeks him hugging me and kissing me."
"Mia" Meredith whispered, "tell me the truth when I hug you does it remind you of... that man... because if it does i'll stop."
"No" Mia said quickly, "I don't mind it."
"Would you like to get up for a while, I can make you a hot chocolate."
"Ok Meredith" Mia got out of bed and walked to the kitchen with Meredith following her before Mia turned around, "Meredith I found out today that Courtney and Steven they wrote letters to the judge saying that I got so many chances to do the right thing, but with everything I did I should be in jail for as long as possible, they said its the only way it can teach me."
Meredith made a silent vow to herself that she was going to make Courtney and Steven pay for what they did to Mia come hell or high water, "don't worry about those letters and don't worry about those people. i'm not going to let anything happen to you."
Mia wiped her eyes and walked forward to put her arms around Meredith's neck, "thanks Meredith."
Meredith held Mia back and nodded, "your welcome Mia."
Noah rubbed his eyes as he blinked in the dark and opening the bedroom door he heard the television from the living room and wandered downstairs in his pyjamas to find Mia sitting on the sofa, "Mia."
"Hey little dude" Mia said with a smile, "you want a glass of water, i'm making some popcorn you want some?"
"Yes please" Noah said as he wandered to the kitchen with Mia, "what about cookies?"
"Sorry dude your mom hid the cookies, I think she caught on to us but we still got popcorn."
Noah nodded as he grinned and waited for Mia to finish cooking the popcorn in the microwave and pouring it into a bowl before he took a big handful, "do I have to go back to bed now?"
"You can stay up with me for a bit" Mia said as he lifted Noah up in one arm and carried the popcorn with her other hand as she walked to the sofa, "there's nothing on the telly though but adult stuff."
"Can we watch a movie instead?"
"Good idea littlefoot, we can watch littlefoot."
Mia put on the land before time and sat on the coach with Noah eating popcorn before she noticed Noah was starting to rest his head on her lap, "hey hey dude dude, you can't fall asleep on me okay."
"Sorry" Noah said as he quickly sat back up.
"You want to go back to bed?"
"I want to stay up with you."
"Okay you can, just don't fall asleep" Mia turned her attention back to the movie and looked sideways at Noah closing his eyes, "oh dear your falling asleep guess i'm gonna have to keep you awake by teaching you the old machine gun belly trick." Noah blinked and giggled as Mia lifted him on to her lap and laughed loudly as Mia lifting up his shirt brought her mouth her to his stomach and made raspberry sounds quickly to the sound of a machine gun, "there you awake."
"Nope" Noah said smiling.
"Oh really than rise" Mia tickled Noah's back prompting Noah to giggle and arch his back, "rise little belly a fart awaits you" Mia blew a loud wet raspberry into Noah's bellybutton as Noah laughed loudly and than the sound of a door opening made Mia look up she quickly turned off the telly and lifting Noah back up she ran to hide behind the sofa, "shhh its your mom we'll be in big trouble if she catches us."
Mia heard footsteps and the sound of Meredith sighing and pouring a glass of water in the kitchen and sniggered when she felt tiny fingers tickling her neck, "shhh shhh Noah" Noah just giggled and went on tickling Mia as Mia snorted and smiled before she took a little foot in her hand and Noah giggled louder as Mia placed a hand gently on his mouth while she used the other hand to tickle Noah's little toes smiling, "what's so funny dude what's so funny" she heard Meredith going back to bed and she grinned at her little charge, "okay we're going to finish watching the movie and then we'll both go to bed and we better call a truce on the tickling so we don't get grounded."
Noah sighed as Mia chuckled, "for now but tomorrow is officially belly farts day for Noah."
"I wish every day was belly farts day."
The next morning Meredith after a restless sleep wandered downstairs and smiled as she found Mia and Noah curled up sleeping on the coach together she quickly walked back to her room to grab her phone and wandered back downstairs to take a picture. Mia slowly opened her eyes yawning and frowned as she waved a hand in front of her face trying to block Meredith from taking a picture, "come on" Meredith whispered with a grin, "for memories please."
"Just don't put this on facebook."
"I won't, I promise" and Mia sighed as Meredith with a smile took a few more pictures before she sat on the armchair next to the sofa, "so I was thinking we could do something special today, we could go to the spa relax and spend a girl days out."
"What about Noah" Mia said as he looked at the little boy sleeping on her side, "what's he going to do today?"
"Well Noah could spend the day with Ally and Derek."
"The spa sounds nice, but I rather hang out with you and Noah its the last day before, you know."
"We could meet them later at the park."
"Okay, thanks Meredith" as Noah let out a small burp and Mia rubbed his shoulder with her hand as Meredith leaned in, "the way you are with Noah I think he's really going to miss you."
Mia nodded, "i'm going to miss him to."
"I think he'll be asking me for a big sister for Christmas."
"Little boys don't want big sisters Meredith."
"Well when Noah was three he had a friend who had a nice big sister and he said to me that year mommy can I have a big sister for Christmas."
"Meredith" Mia said softly as her eyes sparkled, "um" as Noah yawned, "hey little dude."
"Mia, mommy."
"Hey sweetheart" Meredith lifted Noah up, "time for breakfast."
Later that night Meredith had sat alone with Derek at the dinner table away from the children talking with him and watching the anger growing on Derek's face, "so her own aunt and uncle abused her, used her to commit crimes they sold Mia to someone for sex and they made Mia take all the blame for it every time she was caught."
Meredith nodded, "and now they're writing letters to try and put Mia behind bars, they're trying to create the image that they were this nice couple who took in their orphan niece when she was still a little girl and have tried to help her but now she is beyond help and should be put in jail for the rest of her life."
"I don't understand" Derek said softly as he ran his hands up and down his face, "how two people could be so cruel to their niece. I wish she could have gone to live with her grandma instead she would have been a lot better off. Well they want to push to put Mia in jail I say lets push back harder."
"I've been writing about Mia all the things she has done since she left those bastards."
"Good idea" Derek said, "i'll write something to, god help those scumbags if I ever see them."
"Derek" Meredith said, "I don't know if they have a place for Mia the social worker said that if they don't come up with a place the judge isn't just going to let her back out in the street with her history so i'm wondering when we go to court tomorrow if they haven't got a home for Mia the I will be offering to look after Mia long term until a place becomes available."
"Noah would really like it" Derek said simply, "Ally would be over the moon and you and Mia have my full support."
"That's what I wanted to hear" Meredith whispered as she smiled.
"Hey guys" Derek and Meredith looked up as Mia came into the kitchen with her hands behind her back, "hey" Derek said as he grinned, "well you've got your hands behind your back i'm guessing its either a present or a prank."
Mia smirked, "I wanted to give you guys something" as she pulled her hands out and placed a gift in Derek's hands.
"Mia wow a new watch."
"Meredith told me your always late when you have a date with her so I figured."
Derek snorted and chuckled with Meredith and Mia, "gee thanks."
"I got you this doc"
"A car keychain" Meredith looked over it, "its very nice."
"I thought because I wrecked your car I could give you a car."
"Its not quite the same" Meredith said as she smiled, "but its still very nice."
"I really love this watch Mia" Derek said as he put it on, "but if this cost you a lot of money then I can pay you..."
"Its cool" Mia said, "Hey I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure" Meredith said simply.
"I don't know what's going to happen to me tomorrow but if I get put away could you if you can maybe come and see me sometime with Ally and Noah, I mean if they're scared of the jail then that's cool its um."
"Of course we will" Meredith said as Derek nodded, "definitely."
"Thanks" Mia whispered with moist eyes.
"Ah ah ah" Derek said waving his hands, "come on bring it in."
Mia smiled awkwardly and drew one each around Derek and Meredith for a group hug before she slowly pulled back, "well goodnight."
Derek waited for Mia to go back to her room before he looked at Meredith, "right lets get to work we've got a big letter to write before tomorrow."
The next morning
Meredith woke up very early the next morning and spent an hour staring at the ceiling thinking about what was going to happen before she rolled over and looked at the bedroom clock and smiled as he felt Derek's arms wrapping around her midsection, "today's the day" Derek said softly.
Meredith sighed as she nodded, "well" she rose out of bed and wandered downstairs putting a robe over her bare shoulders before she knocked on the door of her guest room, "Mia honey."
"Yeah."
"Court isn't for a few hours do you want to go out for breakfast this morning."
"Don't you need to drive the kids to school?"
"Cristina is doing the driving today."
"Could I say goodbye to them."
Meredith looked at two little children standing behind her with eager faces, "I think they're waiting to say goodbye to you."
Mia opened the door and Ally and Noah jumped into her arms knocking her over in a group hug, "we'll miss you" Ally whispered.
"I'll miss you guys to" Mia said as she smiled and gave each of them a kiss.
Derek and Meredith looked at Mia poking a plate of eggs and bacon before they looked at each other, "Mia" Derek said breaking the ice, "I know court is scary i've been there myself."
"Because of me" Mia muttered.
"Lets try that again" Derek said, "listen we don't know what's going to happen today so lets try and be positive."
Meredith placed a hand on Mia's knuckles, "Mia if you do go to jail which I don't think is going to happen but if you do than you won't be in there forever when you come out you can get a job and get a place to live and still have a big wonderful life."
"Who would give me a job" Mia said as she looked at the table, "a boss would have to be insane to give me a job."
"Mia you can get a job, it is going to be harder but its not impossible."
"Where would I live, when I get out I don't have anywhere to go."
"If" Meredith stressed the word if, "that happens you can come and live with us until you get back on your feet."
"What" Mia said looking up, "your saying if I showed up five years later on your doorstep you would really take me in."
"Yes" Derek said as Meredith smiled sadly, "you don't believe me do you."
"Even you wouldn't be that nice" Mia said.
"I'm crazy nice lady remember."
"Yeah" Mia chuckled, "I forgot your abnormally nice."
Meredith nodded with Derek, "do you want to talk about anything else."
"Remember when you used to ask me that and I would complain."
"I think all girls your age complain when stickybeaks like me start asking them things."
"I'm afraid everything I did everything that happened the last four years I don't want to go back to that life anymore."
"Mia that's all in the past things are going to change I promise"
"What if its to late, they want to keep me in juvi and then prison."
"Its never to late to change Mia" Derek leaned forward, "you made the choice to change your life and you've already changed things around your going to school, your not getting in fights anymore your not involved in crime and your not living on the street."
"I did some horrible things to people and to you to Derek maybe I deserve-"
"Mia listen to me" Meredith brought her chair around the table, "its not your fault you only did those things because you were forced to and you do not deserve to be in prison."
"Sorry" Mia muttered.
"Don't be sorry" Derek said in a firm voice, "you'll see everything will be fine."
An hour later Meredith and Derek sat side by side beside Mia looking at the television barely saying a word and looked up when Mia's lawyer Katie came walking towards them, "we're up."
"Yeah" Mia said taking deep breaths Meredith took the girl's hand in her own, "just tell them everything you've done and everything will be fine." Meredith walked into the room with Mia and then felt Mia's hand break away from her own as she went forward to sit at the front while Meredith and Derek with rapidly beating hearts went to sit at the back they both sat there listening to the introductions listening to the talking not saying a word Derek looked at Meredith with her fingers crossed and took Meredith's hand in his as the judge looked at Mia, "Mia Rose stand up, you have had multiple sentences since the age of eleven. Charges relating to stealing, assault and underage alcohol and drug use. Over the last few weeks you stole a car from Dr Grey who very graciously did not charge you with the offence and later became your foster parent. Your former guardians your aunt Courtney and uncle Steven have said that you need to go to jail and that you are beyond help" Meredith saw Mia taking deep breaths and her heart bled as she watched Mia struggling not to cry she felt powerless watching her not being able to do anything as the judge continued, "than since being with doctor grey you have punched students in the face and thrown them into garbage bins at school. However you have also engaged with drug and alcohol counselling and have not stolen anything in the last three weeks to your credit your listed difficult behavior has been minimal living with Dr Grey. I am however very concerned that if you are to walk away today than you will continue to offend and come back to your court where you will be re sentenced and I am tempted to re sentence you as I feel that you will continue to offend and will do so in the near future does your lawyer have anything to say?"
"Your honor" Katie said as she stood up, "my client has disclosed that she was being pressured to commit offences by her aunt and uncle and prior to living with them had not had any issues with school or the justice system. In the months since she had left them she has been homeless and living on the street where she could have chosen to steal from others but she didn't except for the one incident with the car with Dr Grey which she was not charged for therefore her criminal behavior since leaving Courtney and Steven Riese has been minimal."
"Mia Rose" the judge said, "when you were homeless what did you do when you were living on the street how did you survive?"
"I stayed at shelters sometimes" Mia said in barely more than a whisper, "your honor most of the time though I had help from the doc I mean Doctor Grey and Mr Shepherd"
"They helped you?"
"They're the best" Mia said, "they're the nicest people i've ever met they could have turned my back on me or thrown me out or have me arrested for stealing Doctor Grey's car at any time but they didn't even when I got into trouble at school and Doctor Grey looked like she was about to have a stroke" Meredith chuckled and Mia turned her head to smile at her and Derek, "she and Mr Shepherd still helped me" she finished.
"Mia what do you want?"
"I don't want to commit another crime your honour for the rest of my life no more getting into trouble and I don't want to go back to juvi." Mia took another deep breath, "please don't send me back there I swear I won't be in trouble ever again."
"You are sorry for the things you have done" the judge said.
"I am I want to make it up by doing community work, picking up thrash or volunteering at orphanages cleaning toilets I will do it I know I sound like i'm talking shit but I want to do community work anything as long as I don't go back to jail."
The judge nodded for a few long seconds before he furrowed his eyebrows, "Mia you have had a lot of chances to do the right thing this is going to be your last chance. You will go to the live in program that child services has selected for you, go to school and do 100 hours of community service over a period of six months in your own time away from school. Failure to complete community service while going to school after the six months will result in you being immediately re sentenced to juvi. There will be a six month review if you commit any offences or if your school attendance record is poor during the review than you will be sentenced to juvi do you understand."
"Yes" Mia said as she beamed, "thank you your honor thank you so much."
Meredith and Derek walked out of the court first hand in hand and watched Meredith emerging a few minutes later smiling widely as Meredith and Derek smiled back, "I think that's the biggest smile I've ever seen on your face" as Mia drew her arms around Derek and Meredith.
"See" Derek said, "everything turned out alright."
"Yeah" Mia said as she turned to the social worker, "so what's going to happen to me now?"
"Well" the social worker Susan said, "we have you set up for a full time program for the next three months here have a look at the brochure."
"Oh wow" Mia said as she looked through it, "it looks nice."
"It does" Meredith said as she looked over Mia's shoulder, "taking care of horses spending time outdoors I think you will love it."
"Its driving distance to your school as well so you don't have to change schools." Susan nodded, "when your ready we can go there."
Mia nodded as she blinked back tears, "could I say goodbye."
"Of course take your time i'll be waiting" Susan walked to the entrance as Mia turned to look at Meredith and Derek, "listen I just wanted to say thanks for what you did for me."
Meredith nodded feeling tears come to her own eyes as Mia continued, "if you hadn't helped me I would have ended up in jail or been dead so...thanks."
"Mia" Derek said, "I want you to know that your always going to be part of Ally's life and I want to bring Ally up to visit you sometime I think she would love the horses not to mention you know seeing you."
"Cool" Mia nodded.
"If there is anything you need" Meredith said softly, "or anything you want to talk to me or us about you can call us okay."
"Okay" Mia said as her voice cracked and Meredith drew her into a tight embrace, "I know sweetheart I know."
"I will never forgot what you did for me" Mia whispered before she drew back and hugged Derek, "thank you."
"Your welcome" Derek said softly as he sighed.
Mia slowly pulled back and looked at Susan before she looked at Derek and Meredith, "well goodbye."
"Goodbye" Meredith said softly as she stood beside Derek watching Mia walking out of court and out of sight as she looked at Derek, "Derek."
"I know" Derek said with damp eyes, "i'm going to miss her to."