Meredith looked into the window into the room, she couldn't believe it. She watched as Derek sat at her bedside, she had just been taken off her vent. Surgery went well, her body seemed to be accepting the transplant which was a miracle. She was there, she stood outside the OR waiting and watching from afar. They wouldn't let her in on the surgery but she wanted to make sure everything was perfect.
He looked up from his daughter, looking deeply into Meredith's eyes as they locked in a gaze. She saw the visible sigh of relief as he slowly stood up and waking toward her through the door. He smiled as he got to her, grabbing her hand and his eyes never broke contact with hers.
"She's alive, her vitals are stable. She's going to be ok," he said in disbelief to her, it was a complete miracle the transplant happened. if it wasn't for that poor little girl, they would still be waiting and watching as Grace held on by a thread.
"She is, I'm so happy for you and Addison," Meredith said with a smile, trying her best to be supportive. She hated feeling a hint of jealousy. She knew there was nothing that could have saved Olivia but seeing Grace live really stung. She was truly happy she was alive and everything was going so well, but the jealousy was still present.
"Thank you, thank you for being here. I know I was awful, I don't even know how you forgave me but I'm glad you did. Once she is out of this hospital, I am going to do everything to make it up to you," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders and rubbing them lightly.
"Derek, you don't have to do that," Meredith said, shaking her head.
"I need to," he said with an assured look. She knew he was genuinely sorry, and she could forgive him for that. He was distraught and thought his whole world was ending.
"Look, go in there and be there when she wakes up," Meredith looked up at him, he looked a lot better than he did 24 hours ago. He had relief in his eyes, things were beginning to look up for them.
"Do you want to stay?" He offered.
"I don't think I should, it's an intimate moment," she said, shaking her head.
"You are family Meredith, you deserve to be there," he assured her, she knew he just wanted her there for support but she didn't know if she could handle it. She felt herself pulling away from him.
"I know, I just have to go check on Bailey's post ops. I will be back soon," she smiled at him, he replied with a smile before leaning down and placing a kiss on her lips.
"How is Bailey?" He asked.
"She's doing good, baby is healthy. I'm glad everything went as smoothly," Meredith said with a small smile. Everything seemed to be getting back to normal finally.
"That's great to hear. I know she really wanted Addison there to deliver him but with everything happened so fast it was too much for Addison," he offered a smile. It was the first time seeing his smile and it was relieving to say the least.
"Ok, I'll see you later," she smiled up at him, he smiled back again. He leaned down and placed another soft kiss on her lips before turning and walking into her room. Meredith waited a second, watching as he went in and sat down next to her. She was surprised to see her eyes start to flutter open. Meredith couldn't help but to peak into the door.
"Hi Grace, how are you feeling?" Meredith asked as she stepped toward the girl. Her color slowly came back with every breath she took.
"My chest hurts, daddy did I get my new heart?" She asked groggily as she looked at her father.
"You did, and you did so good. I'm so proud of you," he smiled brightly, his eyes lit up at her like he was so enlightened by her presence.
"Can I start playing soccer again soon?" She asked.
"As soon as you are all healed," he nodded with a small chuckle.
"Daddy?" She asked looked up at him.
"Yes Gracie?" He replied.
"Is Meredith your new girlfriend?" She questioned looking at the both of them. They both froze instantly, Meredith was not prepared for that at all.
"What makes you think that Grace?" Meredith asked, breaking the silence.
"Well I saw you kissing in the hall when I was waking up," she admitted.
"I uh- yes she is. Is that ok?" Derek stuttered, he was just as shocked as Meredith.
"I guess. Meredith is really nice and pretty. She helped me a lot when I broke my arm," she smiled a little, looking up at her.
"I'm glad, I'm going to let you two rest a while. I'll come check on you soon," Meredith smiled at both of them. She was so relieved that she made it, she was alive and breathing. Meredith walked toward the nurses station, she couldn't help but look into the waiting room. She saw the mother of the little girl who had gave her heart to Grace. Meredith couldn't hold back as she slowly entered the room.
"Mrs. Denison?" Meredith asked as she approached the woman.
"Sorry, I know I should leave but it feels weird. My daughter is gone, my oldest is completely fine but my baby girl- she's gone," the woman said as tears rushed down her cheeks.
"I know, and it's the worst feeling in the world. She's safe now, she is no longer in pain. I know it doesn't seem like much but you saved 10 children today. One of them being in this very hospital," Meredith offered. She knew that pain all too well. She didn't want to leave once her daughter was no longer here. She felt hopeless, Meredith wanted to give the woman some kind of peace knowing how many lives she saved.
"I know, I'm a scrub nurse over at Seattle Pres and my son had a kidney transplant when he was 9. I wanted to help families that needed it like the family who helped my son. How old is the child I gave Alice's heart and lungs to?" The woman asked curiously. Meredith wasn't sure if she was suppose to say anything but she knew Derek wouldn't mind.
"She's 8. She wonderful, so happy and ready to take on the world," Meredith smiled as she spoke about Grace.
"I can take you to see her, if you'd like," Meredith offered, suddenly realizing she probably shouldn't have.
"I don't know if I can talk to her," the woman said, shaking her head.
"You don't have to, you can look from afar. It might give you some closure," Meredith said, hoping the give her just a small sense of peace.
"Ok," the woman nodded, standing up. Meredith guided her down the hall to Grace's room. She watched the tears falling from the woman's eyes as she looked at Grace.
"She's beautiful, reminds me of Alice," the woman choked as she watched Derek talking to Grace with a large smile on her heart.
"Can I, I just want to hear her breathing and living because of my Allie," the woman asked.
"Give me a second," Meredith walked through the door and stopped by Derek.
"Derek, can I talk to you?" She asked, ushering her to the door.
"What's wrong?" He asked, his eyes concerning.
"I think I messed up. the woman standing a few feet away, that's the donor's mother. She was crying in the waiting room all alone and I hated seeing her like that. She just needs a little closure," Meredith asked. His eyes looked up, looking at the sad woman standing away from them. He bypassed Meredith and walked toward her.
"Thank you, thank you so much for saving my baby girl," Derek said, a tear welled into his eyes.
"I knew she would want it, she loved medicine and aspired to be a doctor," the woman said as tears continued to stream down her face. Meredith watched the interaction, her heart fluttering from the exchange.
"I'm Derek Shepherd, and that's my daughter Gracie," he reached out for a handshake.
"I'm Amy Denison. My daughter Alice, she was the light of my life," she breathed visibly deep.
"You don't know how much this means to our family. Would you like to meet her?" He asked. She nodded, following him into Grace's room.
"Gracie, this is Mrs. Denison. Her daughter was the one who gave you your new heart," he said as he introduced them.
"Hi, thank you for giving me a new heart. Daddy said someone really kind was going to help me get better," she said with an innocent smile. She didn't quite understand how it worked.
"You're welcome sweetie. I'm glad to see how well you are treating my daughter's heart with how much kindness and love you have," the woman had a teary smile as she looked at Grace, "I have to go now but I trust that you will have a life full of happiness." The woman said before turning and walking out. Derek looked up at Meredith, a weak smile as he looked at his daughter.
"Daddy I'm really tired," the girl said with a yawn.
"We have to practice building up strength in your lungs, I know it feels different but we have to," he said as he handed her the instrument that measured how deep her breathing was. She sighed, taking it from him. Meredith watched as the girl struggled moving it more than a quarter way up.
"It will eventually get better with breathing exercises and soon you will be back to normal," he offered a smile to his daughter.
"Can I go back to sleep?" She asked lightly. Their attention was turned when Amelia entered the room.
"Aunt Amy," the girl smiled, Amelia smiling as well as she went over to Grace.
"Nice to see you awake Gracie. How are you feeling?" Amelia asked.
"I'm really tired. Daddy was just about to let my take a nap," she said, looking at her father.
"Great timing Amy, I'm starving and was going to grab some food. Can you sit with her while I'm gone?" He asked.
"Sure, I could always use some extra time with my favorite niece," Amelia smiled.
"I don't need a babysitter to sleep daddy, I'm 8," Grace said in a matter of fact tone.
"Ah, yes. 8 going on 18, I'm glad the attitude didn't leave," he chuckled, shaking his head, "Amelia is going to sit with you in case you need something. I'll be back soon."
"Fine, but can I eat real food tonight? Like pizza?" She asked.
"I don't know about pizza, we can ask Dr. Altman when she comes in later," he smiled at her before turning and going toward the door with Meredith following him.
"She has an appetite, that's good," Meredith said as she walked next to him to the elevator.
"I hope it last. She's still on a heavy dose of pain medicine, I just feel like I'm waiting on the other shoe to drop," he said, shaking his head as he hit the first floor button.
"I know you are, but you have to just take it one step at a time," she said with a soft smile to him.
"Since when are you hopeful? What happened to dark and twisty?" He asked.
"I realized miracles do happen, and I've made an appointment to Dr. Wyatt because I have to get better. I can't keep pushing everyone I love away," she breathed deeply, she was more than nervous to start therapy but she needed it. She had to learn to deal with her trauma instead of pushing all her emotions down.
"I'm proud of you," he said with a smile. She knew that he would support her through anything she decided. Through their hardships, he always had her back. She let out a small sigh of relief as she reach up and placed a quick kiss against his lips.
"Thank you," she couldn't help but smile at him. Her heart skipping a beat as he leaned down and kissed her again, this one lasting a bit longer but not enough for her satisfaction.
"You better go actually check on those patients. Bailey may be down for now but she'll be back," he let out a small chuckle.
"Crap, I forgot. I'll see you later," she said with a quickness as she hurried to check on the patients she was suppose to hours ago.
An: SO SORRY for this being so delayed so I posted two updates, more info in the next Authors notes , I hope there are still some of you out there reading this !