The alarm buzzed, Derek reached out lazily slapped Meredith's clock several times until the alarm stopped, "morning you."
"Morning yourself" Meredith leaned over half asleep and kissed Derek deeply, "happy, hmmm what would you call this day."
"The last day before we're husband and wife."
"I was trying to think of something" Meredith popped herself up on her elbow, "a little more creative than that."
"Okay" Derek sat up, "um how about happy last singles day."
"Hmm" Meredith replied, "happy final day before tying the knot."
"Yeah you know" Derek smiled softly, "we could brainstorm this name all morning or we could celebrate the day instead" Derek said as he positioned his body on top of Meredith's and began to run his hands up her legs.
"Derek" Meredith giggled as Derek kissed her earlobe, "if we start doing this now, we" Meredith sighed as Derek kissed the part of her neck which always made her melt. "We what" Derek whispered in her ear before he resumed kissed her neck again as Meredith softly said with her eyes closed, "I was thinking of our wedding night tomorrow, waiting until then." Meredith sighed as Derek rocked his pelvis against hers, "getting ourselves" Meredith's hands ran up and down his back, "um what am I saying."
"Just think of this as a prelude to tomorrow night."
"Well since you put it that way" Meredith smiled as Derek kissed her lips passionately as he ran his hands up her nightdress to pull down her panties and Meredith's hands reached down to remove the shirt on his back. Meredith sighed again as Derek resumed kissing her neck feeling arousal coursing through her body, her hands reached down to remove whatever clothing Derek had left. Derek resumed to grind his pelvis and Meredith gasped out in ecstasy as she felt Derek entering her. Meredith groaned and breathed as Derek moved and grinded slowly at first and then increasing speed. Meredith cried out and arched her back to turn Derek over she kissed him hungrily as Derek removed her nightdress and cupped her breasts. Meredith rode him vigorously until the sound of little feet running around in the corridor reached her ears and she opened her eyes, "Derek the kids are up."
Derek groaned and Meredith reluctantly put her nightdress back on as her hand reached out and her fingers intertwined with Derek's fingers before she kissed his chest, "tomorrow night it will be just us in our honeymoon suite."
"Just us" Derek said as he smiled, "I can hardly wait until tomorrow."
"Mom, mom, mom" Noah raced into the bedroom, "guess what, guess what."
Meredith chuckled Noah had been doing this every morning for the last week, "let me guess you saw a bird outside your bedroom window."
"No" Noah giggled, "you're getting married tomorrow." Noah pointed at Derek, "to this guy."
"This guy huh" Derek said in a goofy voice, "does this guy have a name."
"Um" Noah giggled, "I think so, its Derek."
"Yeah" Derek got up out of bed and lifted Noah high up in the air with his hands as Noah giggled some more "and guess what today is."
"Boys day out" Noah looked at Derek's excitedly.
"Yep today is our special day out, how about you go and get dressed and we'll have breakfast and hit the road."
Noah grinned and ran out of the room, then he quickly ran back into the bedroom and gave Meredith a quick hug who kissed his cheek before he ran back out again.
Derek turned to Meredith who had a sad look on her face, "I still would have liked to have gone out with Ally for the day and do what you're doing for Noah instead of going out for lunch today with my colleagues."
"Well you didn't want a bachelorette party where you stay out all night and bite a stripper on his buttocks but your friends insisted they take you out to celebrate."
"It just doesn't seem fair on Ally" Meredith sighed "that you're taking out Noah and i'm not doing the same for Ally. As for having a bachelorette party I could not care less about it. I've had one before for my previous marriage and it was one of the most stressful nights of my life. It was a miracle me and my friends from back then didn't end up in prison."
Derek squatted and looked eagerly at Meredith, "i'm wanting to hear more about this."
"I'll tell you the story on our honeymoon sweetheart, by the time I get through the entire story the day will have gone."
Derek chuckled and then put a hand on Meredith's quilt covered knee, "don't worry about Ally, you're going out to have fun today and so will Ally. Remember she and Cristina are going to go to the water theme park. Plus Ally always thinks you're going to go shopping for clothes whenever you two go out together and she starts moaning about it."
Meredith turned her head, "she has gotten a lot better about me buying things over time but she still doesn't want me to buy her anything that costs more than twenty dollars."
"Hey if she does the whole not wanting to buy anything really expensive when she's older and into adulthood it could be a very helpful life skill to have."
"Just as long as she's not growing up to fast. There's still a lot of experiences I want to treasure with her while she's little."
"As do I" Derek kissed Meredith's forehead, "I better go and get ready for mr Noah."
Meredith nodded, she got dressed and looked outside as she reflected on the thoughts in her mind. She was getting married tomorrow she was excited, nervous and happy all at once. Meredith felt everything was perfect than she opened the little drawer by her dresser and got out the little locket which contained the photo of everyone she loved, almost perfect she thought to herself. The locket she held was the one she had given to Mia for Christmas, the one that Mia had left behind when she left the house. Meredith brushed her thumb over the photo and the part where Mia was pulling a funny grin and she whispered a little prayer to herself that wherever Mia was she was safe and ok. Meredith over the past few months had talked to police from all over America more times than she could count and they all had said they will keep an eye out for her and ring if there were any sign but Mia was old enough to not grab the police's immediate attention and Meredith knew this time round Mia had gone somewhere where she wouldn't be found as easily. Meredith also knew that if she did decide to search all around America looking for her it would be a miracle if she was able to find her. As much as she had hated to stop trying to look for her Meredith knew she wouldn't be able to find her by herself. She felt negative thoughts entering her mind and she tried as hard as she could to push aside the nagging thoughts that Mia might not even be alive. Meredith took out a deep breath and tried as hard as she could to think about the day ahead something she recently found herself doing whenever bad thoughts entered her head.
A short while later Derek was standing with Noah at the park looking over a bike. Derek made sure nothing was loose in the bike before he put a strong gentile hand on Noah's shoulder, "ok mate you ready."
Noah shook his head and looked down, Derek bent to his level, "I know it's scary the first time you do this but you got the training wheels right here." Derek pointed at the wheels and rubbed Noah's back with his hand, "you're not going to fall over."
"It's so big" Noah said looking at the bike.
"Yeah" Derek replied "and so are you, you can ride this bike, I bet you can."
"Will you help me?"
"Of course I will."
Noah grinned and hopped on the bike with Derek holding on to the middle of the bike, "there you go, I don't think you were scared at all before were you."
"I'm not scared now" Noah grinned, "you're holding the bike."
"Ok well what if I let go of this bike."
"Derek" Noah pipped up, "i'm scared again."
"Hey hey, come on you can do this. I'm just going to let go of this bike nice and easy, ok you won't fall."
Noah held his breath and closed his eyes as Derek let go of the bike, "there see your all good."
"I am" Noah said as he kept his eyes closed.
"You're all good but you do need to open your eyes mate."
Noah opened his eyes, "I'm not falling down."
"Nope you're not falling over. Now the next step is put your feet on the peddles and move slowly. Nice and slowly."
Noah moved his feet and the bike started to go, "i'm riding" Noah called out, "i'm riding."
"Yeah you're doing it" Derek said as he jogged alongside Noah you're doing it go, go go, whoa whoa look out." Derek sprinted and gently stopped the bike, "ah but look out for the wall."
"Oh" Noah giggled sheepishly as Derek took a big breath out himself, "cool alright well I think you deserve an ice cream."
Noah and Derek walked to the nearby stand, Derek got an ice cream for Noah who took it and lifted up the ice cream with wide eyes to Derek, "hey this is your ice cream."
"You don't have one, it's good to share" Noah said.
"Yeah but we shouldn't be passing germs. Its ok, this is yours."
Noah walked to the ice cream counter and reached up to get a plastic spoon and putting some ice cream on a spoon then passed it to Derek, "you are very clever" Derek said as he took the spoon from his hand as Noah giggled.
After the ice cream Derek and Noah walked to the edge of a hill, "race you up the hill" Noah called out as he started to run, Derek followed close behind him. They got to the top of the hill, Noah lifted his arms up and Derek lifted him onto his shoulders, "I can see the whole world."
"The whole world" Derek replied, "or at least all of Seattle."
"Derek" Noah said.
"Yeah" Derek said looking up at Noah.
"Tomorrow you and mommy get married right."
"Yeah we're getting married."
"Will you be my daddy tomorrow?"
"Well yeah" Derek said, "if you want me to."
Noah's arms wrapped around Derek's neck in a gentile squeeze, "I want you to Derek."
"Then I would love to be your dad."
"Tomorrow you'll be my daddy?"
"Noah" Derek patted Noah's knees with his hands, "you don't have to wait until tomorrow for me to be your daddy."
"But that's breaking the rules."
"Well we can just pretend that i'm your daddy today."
"Like the time I pretended to be um."
"Um what" Derek said as he lifted Noah to his feet and bent down to his level.
"Mia's little brother" Noah whispered.
"Hey" Derek said as he lifted Noah onto his knee.
"I miss Mia."
"Yeah" Derek's hand rubbed Noah's back feeling a deep sadness come over him, "I miss her to."
"Will we ever see her again?"
"I reckon that we will" Derek said hoping that deep down he was right, "I reckon she's going to show up on our doorstep one day and we'll welcome her inside."
"And ground her for life?"
"Well we'll definitely be giving her a firm talk not to run away again."
Noah nodded and Derek's hand patted his stomach for a little while, "come on champ lets go and play some basketball."
Noah hopped down and started to run, he looked back and with a big grin he called out, "hurry up dad."
"Coming um son" Derek said feeling a bit bashful as he jogged after Noah.
Meanwhile Meredith sat down with her friends and cringed as a drink was placed down in front of her by Arizona, "Ari its ten am."
"And this is your bachelorette party" Arizona countered.
"Is that an excuse to get drunk immediately after breakfast?"
"That answer is obvious, it's your bachelorette part. It's meant to be full of crazy times and bad decisions, come on."
"I won't be able to drive" Meredith muttered.
"That's ok we can drive for you."
"Ok" Meredith said feeling herself giving in, "just one."
Meredith took a sip and her hand went to her forehead, "i'm dizzy, what is in this stuff."
"Meredith" Callie laughed, "we're not going to goggle all the ingredients of a cocktail."
"You've never really had a cocktail before?" Teddy added.
"Not since my twenties" Meredith replied as she squinted at the mixture in her glass "and back then it wasn't a huge amount."
"Well if drinking isn't floating your boat" Arizona brought out her phone, "we've got a list of games we can play today."
"Like what?" Meredith said nervously.
"Well one of these games is, we go around town and when we see guys we ask them what their names are and if the first letter of their names start with a vowel you need to give them a hug or rub their tummy."
Meredith felt her throat tightening with nerves, "i'm not doing that."
"Oh go on" Teddy chimed in, "you'll love it, it will be a laugh."
"A laugh for everyone else, for me I will get arrested and i'll be calling my husband to be to bail me out for the wedding."
"No you won't" Callie said, "trust me when you do things like this at bachelorette parties you don't get arrested."
Meredith put her head in her hand feeling her headache getting worse, "can't we just have a nice coffee, a nice lunch and a nice chat?"
"Alright" Arizona put away her phone, "if you want to have the most boring bachelorette party ever than we can."
"I'm sorry" Meredith replied, "I know your wanting a fun party and i'm being as dull as ditch water."
"No no i'm the one who should be sorry" Arizona gave Meredith a apologetic face, "I shouldn't say that, we'll have the most down to earth bachelorette party."
"We'll have a nice lunch" Callie tapped her fingers together, "so you and Derek, together forever how does it feel."
"It feels perfect" Meredith immediately answered.
"That's great" Callie said, "I know you said you were feeling a bit worried before."
"I know before I felt a bit funny and a bit worried that my second husband would do what my first husband did but I know Derek wouldn't want to do anything to hurt me."
"That's the spirit" Teddy said as she put her hand on Meredith's knuckles.
"But seriously I am not drinking any more of this, i'll pay for the cocktail but I don't want to be saying I do with a hangover."
"Ok, we'll get you a coffee instead."
"I really appreciate the effort though."
"We know" Callie said, Arizona and Teddy nodded in agreement.
A few hours later when her headache finally cleared Meredith had driven home and opened the front door, Ally and Cristina wouldn't be back for a few hours and Meredith for the first time in a long time had some time to herself. She sat down on the sofa and hearing the phone ring she answered, "hello doctor Grey speaking."
"Hey love, how are you doing?"
"Hi Caroline" Meredith said recognising Derek's mum's voice.
"Caroline, come tomorrow that name is going to be to formal."
"I'm sorry, what would you like me to call you?"
"You can call me mom if you like."
"Um" Meredith was not sure how to respond and Caroline sensing this quickly said, "i'm sorry that's making you uncomfortable, feel free to call me that if you want to. If you want to call me Caroline then forgot what I just said."
"Um, ah thank you" Meredith said not knowing what to say.
"And thank you for making my Derek the happiest man in the world."
"It's my pleasure, he makes me the happiest lady on the planet."
"I'm glad that he does, both of you deserve to be happy."
"I'll see you at the wedding tomorrow."
"Darling we will be there with big bunches of flowers."
Meredith chuckled a bit and after saying goodbye she ended the call. Caroline had invited Meredith to call her mom, she was given Meredith the kind of affection that Meredith had craved from her own mother for a long time and part of the reason why Meredith after having a child of her own was determined to not be like her mum and to show affection and love for all her children. It had been a big day, the phone rang again and she answered, "hello doctor Grey."
"Doctor Grey, you mean doctor Shepherd."
"Hi Amelia" Meredith chuckled.
"Hey sis."
"Um" Meredith yet again felt completely stumped.
"What" Amelia said in a pretend to be offended voice, "no hi sis back."
"Sorry ive just had a phone call from your mum inviting me to call her mum and now I have Derek's sister inviting me to call her sis, it's been a big half hour."
"Ah well um, I guess I'll keep this brief. I'm looking forward to the wedding and I'm really glad to call you my sis."
"Me to Amelia" Meredith said with a wide smile, "see you tomorrow sis."
"You're going to make me cry if I stay on the phone" Amelia chuckled, "see you tomorrow."
Meredith got a glass of water and she heard the phone ringing again, "who is it this time, a new aunt or uncle?" she muttered as she picked up her phone, "hello doctor um Shepherd speaking."
Meredith heard loud wind through the phone, "hello is anyone there."
"Meredith" a weak voice whispered.
Meredith sat up with a shot, "Mia, Mia is that you."
"Doc" the voice said softly.
"Mia where are you."
"Um i'm on the highway to Seattle."
"Ok you're on the highway, you sound like your outside" Meredith said as she dashed to get her bag while keeping her phone to her ear. She looked out the window at the rain and hurried to get her coat and a spare one.
"I got on a bus to go to Seattle and then we got off for a break and I didn't get back on in time, the bus took off."
"Mia are you ringing from a payphone."
"Yeah, im so cold."
"Ok find some shelter, I'm going to be right there."
"Ok."
"I'll be right there honey" Meredith said softly before she gathered blankets a first aid kit and ran onto her car.
Meredith drove and stopped at every bus stop you could see looking for a sign of Mia, she drove for over an hour, her feelings of worry and fear for Mia's safety growing stronger every time she went to a bus stop and she couldn't see Mia. Meredith tried to think and then she rang a number she was familiar with to get information. Meredith got the information she needed and drove on until at last she could see a hooded figure lying on a bench inside the stop. Meredith squinted her eyes and couldn't see the person's face, she parked the car and without thinking she ran to the figure. She put a hand on the shoulder and sure enough she could see a familiar blond hair and face, "Mia, Mia honey."
Mia cried out in fear, "don't fucking touch me" she yelled as she jumped to her feet with closed fists then she opened her eyes. "Doc" Mia whispered and Meredith nodded with a warm smile, "hi Mia." Mia's face cracked up and she ran forward and threw herself into Meredith's arms. She took massive sobs, "its ok, its ok" Meredith whispered as she held Mia tight. "Your safe, come on let's get you to the car."
Meredith walked with Mia and opened up the backseat, "ok honey I need you to take off your clothes, whatever is wet and then cover yourself in the blankets so you don't catch hyperthermia." Mia just nodded and Meredith getting into the front seat turned on the heater a few moments she looked behind Mia was covered in blankets breathing heavily with her eyes closed. Meredith feeling a huge relief washing over her started up the car and drove home.
Meredith drove for several hours back to her home and when she finally pulled into her drive way she looked reached out a hand and gently stroked Mia's cheek with her thumb until Mia stirred and slowly opened her eyes, "we're here sweetheart."
Mia nodded, "um, oh yeah I know where I am. Ah Meredith."
"Yes?"
"Is Derek, you know what happened with him, is he um crippled or-"
"Derek is fine, he's right as rain he's not here right now."
"What why, wait you guys didn't…"
"No Mia, we didn't break up, we're getting married tomorrow that's why Derek isn't here today, he and Noah have gone out for the day and we're seeing them tomorrow."
"Oh, Noah's not here either."
"You'll see him tomorrow."
Mia looked at the house, "Ally's still here isn't she?"
"Yes she is."
"Oh crap" Mia said loudly.
"Mia" Meredith shook her head and chuckled, "you're not even in the house and you're already swearing."
"The wedding, fuck, I don't have a gift for you guys or anything to wear."
"Okay listen, you didn't have to get us a gift, which is what I keep telling everyone who asks me what wedding present should they give us and it just seems to fall on deaf ears. Also we brought your bridesmaid dress months ago when me and Derek first got engaged. We were waiting for the right moment to surprise you with it."
"Oh, right I ah cool. Ah" Mia looked at her bare arms, "also just in case you didn't notice I don't have anything to wear except the underwear I have on. Plus I don't want to get out of this car in my garments not unless i'm like doing something to get money."
Meredith chuckled, "you left some of your pyjamas here, i'll get you a pair."
"Wait" Mia pulled a face, "do you mean the ones you bought me?"
"I know they're not exactly stylish."
"They got yellow ducks all over them, you wear them when you're like dancing on stage for 3 year olds."
"Well if you would rather wear one of my dressing gowns."
"No thanks" Mia said with a smirk, "they smell like old people."
Meredith laughed, "i'm glad you haven't lost your sense of humour."
Mia smirked and then her face became serious, "does Ally still hate me?"
"She doesn't hate you" Meredith said as her thumb brushed Mia's cheek "and she never has, she was just angry before that's all. A lot of kids her age say things like that when they get angry, once she realised you left the house she was very sad."
"Okay" Mia said.
Meredith looked at Mia's red eyes and pale face, she looked dead on her feet, "do you want to have a bath, or go to bed?"
"A bath sounds like heaven doc."
"Ok."
Meredith and Mia walked into the house and saw Cristina and Ally playing a card game. They looked up and Ally stared with a wide mouth, "hey bumblebee" Mia said nervously.
Ally ran over and started to pull on Mia's hands, "what" Mia gasped as she allowed Ally to move her, "where are we going?"
"Meredith we got her, we need to lock her away."
"Ally" Meredith said shaking her head.
Ally pulled a chuckling Mia into the bedroom before Ally quickly got out of the room and closed the door, "get the boxes and the sticky tape someone."
"Ally" Meredith said, "we're not locking Mia away."
"But she'll escape again, good job for capturing her" Ally put her thumbs up.
"I did not capture her honey can you let Mia out."
"But she'll escape again" Ally said loudly.
A few minutes there was a "hey bumblebee" Mia said as she opened the door dressed in pyjamas.
"Prisoners do not speak" Ally said with authority, "unless spoken to."
"Ally hey moppet, i'm not going to run away."
"That's right because you're a prisoner."
"No because I don't want to run away."
Ally looked deep into Mia's eyes, "promise you won't run away again."
"Well the doc or another rugrat like Noah or you will just come after me again to bring me back here so what's the point in running away."
Ally opened the door all the way, "can I have a hug" Mia asked.
Ally threw herself into Mia's arms, "sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"For lying before, I don't hate you."
"I know" Mia kissed Ally's cheek, "please don't run away again."
Cristina who was watching the whole exchange, "honey how about you help me make some cookies."
"Ok" Ally said as she hopped off to the kitchen. Cristina walked over to Mia, "well this is unexpected."
"Yeah" Mia whispered, "hey sorry I ran away before and stuff."
"It's good to see you again young miss" Cristina said as she and Mia gave each other a hug, "I better go and help our young miss Ally."
"I'll get the bath ready" Meredith smiled and Mia nodded a thanks. A half hour later Mia came out with a towel around her hair. Meredith who had been getting the fireplace ready stood up as soon as Mia entered the living room, "would it be ok if we talked for a bit" Meredith said to Mia.
"Ok" Mia breathed as she walked slowly over and sat on the couch with Meredith sitting on a chair in front of her taking her hand into her own, "I first of all want to know how you are feeling?"
"Well" Mia smirked, "i'm surprised you're not lecturing and trying to ground me for life."
"Mia" Meredith said with a small smile and Mia's face clouded, "I feel like, like I want to rip my heart out of my chest."
"Mia do you feel that way because of what happened before?"
"When we were in the woods and the man fired the gun, I thought Derek was going to die." Meredith looked at Mia's eyes glowing with pain, "I can still see him inside my head lying on the ground struggling to breath."
"What happened was not your fault Mia."
"It was Meredith, I'm the reason why Derek nearly died."
"It was not you who shot him."
"Derek came after me, i'm the reason he got shot."
"Mia he came after you to help you and that is partly my fault. I got angry with him before when he refused to come out with me to search all of New York to find you. I think he wanted to prove how much he cared by going out there by himself to help you."
"It's not just him, in my dreams I see Ally, Noah lying still dying and I also see you."
Meredith put a hand on Mia's forearm, "that's completely understandable but they are just dreams.
"What if they come back?"
"They're in prison honey, they can't do anything."
"They still" Mia whispered, "can do stuff, they can talk to people outside who can do things to hurt you."
"Mia there are always going to be bad people out there we can't change that but worrying about them and what they will do. If we do that all the time and stop living our own lives than they win."
Mia sniffed and looked at Meredith's hands gently massaging her, "why did you want to come back honey?"
"I missed you" Mia replied, "I missed everyone, when I was out there on the street I met people living on the street who encouraged me to come back, to talk."
"That was the right thing to do" Meredith smiled warmly, "I know you want to keep us safe but you not being here, not being part of our lives is like having an empty space in our family. We all miss and worry about you like crazy and that hurts us more than what those men could ever do to us."
"I should never have come into your lives."
"Don't ever say that, you coming in to our lives was one of the best things that has ever happened to us."
Mia started to cry and Meredith sat on the couch and put her arm around her, "Mia why don't you take one day at a time, stay with us for at least a little while. You'll see that everything is alright."
"I want to live with you, I want to go back to the way things were but"
"Don't say but" Meredith's thumb gently brushed Mia's cheek and Mia closed her eyes.
"Mia" Ally ran into the room and jumped into Mia's arms, "don't cry Mia."
Mia sniffed and wrapped her arms around Ally, "don't cry, please don't cry."
Mia took deep breaths, "its ok I'm staying here for good."
"You are" Ally gasped.
"I said so didn't I" Mia looked at Meredith with a smile, Meredith looked at Mia overjoyed before she turned to Ally, "sweetheart it's time for bed."
"But Mia's here."
"Mia will be here tomorrow."
"Ok" Ally kissed Mia's cheek, before she looked at Meredith with an excited face, "the wedding is tomorrow."
"It sure is" Meredith's hand brushed Ally's hair.
"That's why bedtime is early tonight."
"That's right sweetheart, your very clever."
Mia wiped her eyes with a tissue, "doc, Meredith."
Meredith's hands put on her shoulders, "you know what I want to do."
"What?"
"Watch a movie like we used to do."
Mia stood up straight, "only if I get to pick."
"Ok" Meredith smirked "but only if it's something that isn't completely moronic like the last movie you picked."
Mia sniggered, "it's not my fault you don't have good taste."
"I have mature taste."
"That's because you're really mature you know" Mia leaned forward her grin growing wider, "like really really mature."
Meredith chuckled as she scrolled through the online list of films, "how about this one."
"Okay" Mia snuggled on the couch and Meredith sat beside her before Mia made a funny noise and put Meredith's arm around her shoulder, Meredith chuckled and rubbed Mia's shoulder with her hand as they stated to watch the movie until Meredith looked at Mia's face trying to read her thoughts, "are you ok?"
"Ah yeah" Mia replied, "I, never mind."
"Ok."
"Um doc."
Meredith paused the movie, "you can tell me anything Mia."
"You know what I said before when we were having a big fight, you tried to talk to me and I yelled at you and said a lot of horrible things and…"
"Mia" Meredith interrupted, "i'm not upset anymore, that was a long time ago."
"That's not what I meant, what I said I, I didn't mean it."
"I know."
"It's, you've looked after, I mean you've always been there for me and I, I want to you to know that." Mia took deep breaths, "even though you're not my real mum your like my, I mean I think of you as my real mum." Meredith felt her heart glowing, "and" Mia said "softly, "if its ok, if your, if its not to late could….god this is really hard."
"Mia, are you asking me to adopt you?" Mia slowly turned her head without looking her in the eye and she slowly nodded, Meredith smiled and slowly nodded back and Mia looked up, "really" she whispered and Meredith nodded again, "of course I will."
Mia sniffed and threw herself into Meredith's arms hugging her tightly as she quietly cried, "of course I will adopt you."
"I was so afraid you would say no."
"Well adopting kids is my thing after all, I do need to boost my numbers."
Mia chuckled and Meredith followed suit for a long time, "I love you" Mia said.
"I love you to" Meredith whispered back kissing Mia's forehead. They cuddled for a while by the warmth of the fireplace until Meredith took a glance at the clock, "honey we should think about going to bed."
Mia grumbled and Meredith rubbed Mia's back, "i'm enjoying this to but I am getting married tomorrow, I do need to get to sleep."
"Doc" Mia groaned.
"We can snuggle another time."
"I won't want to snuggle another time" Mia muttered.
Meredith chuckled, "well maybe not or maybe you will."
Mia groaned and Meredith sighed, "Mia come on you are to big for me to carry you to bed."
"Ok" Mia muttered as she slowly released herself from Meredith's embrace, "goodnight doc" she said with a grin as she jumped up from the couch.
"Night honey" Meredith called after her as she turned off the television and walked upstairs.
Meredith lied in bed feeling for the first time in a long time that everything was right in the world then she felt a weight in the bed next to her and a familiar breathing sound. Meredith rolled onto her back, "Mia you can be very stubborn sometimes."
"Well can I just tick this off the bucket list."
"And what is that, keeping me awake all night?"
"No sleeping in my mums' bed, never got to do it before. I didn't have a nice mum before."
"Ok" Mia put a hand on Meredith's shoulder, "just for tonight but you should know I do have a habit of pulling the covers off Derek in my sleep."
"That's cool" Mia replied, "i'll just pull them back."
"Ok, seriously i'm so glad your back and your ok."
"Yeah me to" Mia smirked, "I guess"
Meredith chuckled and Mia followed suit, "hey do I have to wait until adoption day to call you mum?"
"Well I'll miss being called doc."
"I'll still call you doc sometimes."
Meredith smiled, "than its ok with me."
Mia smiled, "love you mum."
Meredith once again today felt her heart glowing in her chest, "love you to" Meredith kissed Mia's forehead, "but seriously I need to get some sleep."
"Ok I'll wake you up if I get bored."
"You'll go back to your own bed if you wake me up in the night ratbag."
Mia chuckled some more before she snuggled inside the bed, "goodnight sweetheart" Meredith whispered.
"Yeah goodnight sweetheart" Mia muttered back and Meredith chuckled one more time before she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.