The sun was shining through her bedroom window when Meredith awoke, making her squint. Groaning, she rolled over, coming face to face with Sofia who was snoring softly. She reached over, placing her hand on Sofia's arm and she ran her hand up and down it.
She knew she needed to get used to having a child sleep in bed with her but she had gotten used to sleeping alone since Derek died.
"Sofia, honey, time to wake up," she whispered softly.
"Ugh, five more minutes," Sofia groaned, turning over and Meredith wonderned when Sofia suddenly became a teenager as she laughed softly.
Slowly she got out of bed, cupping her hand over her bump as she did, feeling the feather-like kicks of her baby that had just started a few days prior. They were soft, barely noticeable to anyone unless they were really trying to feel them and she loved that. It was her own little thing for now. She couldn't help but laugh, thinking back to that very first time she had felt the kicks.
Flashback...
The day had been long, back to back surgeries didn't give Meredith much time to breathe let alone have a moment to herself.
She was standing at the table, an uneasy feeling inside of her. Something was happening, something in her stomach that made her nervous.
"Mer, you alright?" Alex asked from across the table, noticing Meredith's hand shaking.
"Uh, yeah, I think so," Meredith whispered.
"Go and take a break Mer, you've been on your feet all day." Alex whispered.
She wanted to argue. She didn't want to leave but the feeling in her stomach was making her more nervous by the second.
Blowing out a sigh, she nodded. "Yeah, alright. Bailey can take over." She whispered, backing away from the operating table.
She ripped her mask off as she left the operating room, gently placing her hand against her stomach as she rubbed it.
She debated heading up to O.B. just to make sure she wasn't freaking out over nothing but instead she went to the vending machine, grabbing a granola bar before heading to Callie's room.
"Hey, you alright?" Alex asked as he entered the room after he finished with the surgery.
"I don't know honestly. I'm thinking about going to O.B. to get checked." Meredith said, continuing to rub her belly.
"Why? What's wrong?" Alex asked, suddenly concerned.
"Something's happening," she sighed. "It's like a weird flutter or something. I don't know how to explain it."
Alex took his hand, gently placing it against her stomach as he lightly pushed down. Meredith stood there, trying to read his expression. Only when he smiled did she feel some slight relief.
"What is it?" Meredith whispered, needing Alex to say something. Anything.
"Nothing's wrong, Mer. Your baby is just having a field day in there." He laughed. "What your feeling is the baby kicking," he smiled lightly.
"Wait, really?" She asked, taken aback. "Are you sure?"
Alex laughed. "Yeah, Mer. I work in Peds and with pregnant moms all the time. I think I know a thing or two."
"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry. It's just...I was freaking out over nothing." Meredith said, rolling her eyes slightly.
"Well you've never been pregnant before so it's understandable." Alex said softly.
She smiled, placing her hand against her stomach as she soaked in the completely weird but amazing feeling of her baby kicking inside of her.
End of flashback
She headed downstairs, pouring two bowls of cereal as she waited for Sofia. A few minutes later, Sofia came bouncing down the stairs, running into the kitchen.
"Morning, Sofia. How are you?" Meredith asked, smiling.
"Good," Sofia said with a smile. "You have to work today?" She asked, jumping onto the stool by the island.
"Don't I always?" Meredith laughed. "Here, eat up and grab what you want to take with you today." Meredith smiled. "What would you think about coming with me to my appointment today? We get to see the baby."
"Yeah! I wanna see the baby!" Sofia squealed.
"In a few months, you'll be able to meet my baby." Meredith smiled.
"Months? That's a long time." Sofia pouted.
"Tell me about it," Meredith groaned, rubbing her fingers back and forth across her bump. She paused for a moment. "Okay, I'll drop you off at your moms room and come and get you before I go up to my appointment, alright?"
"Okay, Auntie Mer!" Sofia smiled.
A few hours later
"Okay, go ahead and step on the scale," the nurse instructed. Meredith tried not to look as she stood on the scale but slowly, she looked down. "141, that's good," she thought as she stepped back down, pulling her sweatshirt back over her head.
"Alright, you know the drill," the nurse smiled, handing her the cup. Everything was routine, a blur really. The questions, the blood tests all seeming tedious to her.
"Hey, you're finally here," Meredith smiled, seeing Alex walk in. She was sitting on the table waiting on the doctor.
"Yeah, sorry I got caught in a surgery," Alex smiled. "How's everything going here?"
"Good, you got here just in time. Next step is the ultrasound," Meredith sighed, picking at her gown.
Alex was quite for a moment but he could tell something was wrong. "Everything will be okay, Mer." Ale whispered, low enough so that Sofia wouldn't hear.
"I know, Alex. It's just...I always feel like this during appointments. I wait for something to go wrong because that's how my life goes. Nothing ever works out for me so how can I expect this to go any different? I mean, yeah I can feel this baby but...we know that doesn't mean anything." Meredith whispered, trying to keep her emotions in check so Sofia wouldn't see her cry.
"Don't think like that, Mer, everything will be fine." He reached out, taking her hand that had been picking at her gown into his.
"Alright, we ready for this?" Carina asked, coming into the room.
"Yeah, let's do this," Meredith smiled. "Sofia, come here," she instructed, waving the little girl over.
She laid down, gently shimming her top up as she blew out a breath, watching as Sofia stood next to Alex. She reached out, grabbing Alex's hand as Carina squirted the gel onto her stomach.
Soon, she could hear the heartbeat. It seemed steady which she was grateful for. She closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the sound before Carina spoke.
"Alright, baby looks to be good. Are we finding out what you're having today?" Carina smiled.
"Yeah, I'd like to know," Meredith breathed. "I hate surprises." She smiled lightly.
"Alright, well luckily your baby is not at all shy about showing us." Carina laughed softly. "Congrats mommy," Carina smiled as she turned the screen towards Meredith. "You're having a boy."
For once, Meredith was speechless. All she could do was smile softly, staring at the screen. "Hi there baby, I love you...so much."
"Baby!" Sofia squealed, making everyone laugh.
"Yeah, that's my baby," Meredith whispered, turning to look at Alex as she smiled softly. They both knew everything was alright and could only pray that it stayed that way.
