"Bailey!" Shouted Meredith. She was on her way to home, but then she remembered about her maternity leave and that she needed to extend it, so she went to see Bailey. Hearing her name, Bailey turned around and stopped.

"Meredith, is everything alright?" She asked.

Meredith stood in front of her. "I want to talk to you about my maternity leave."

"Let's go to my office."

Meredith sat in front of her boss and looked outside. It was dark and the moon was in the sky.

"I am not ready to go back, Miranda." Meredith said and looked into her boss' eyes.

"You want to extend your maternity leave."

"Yes."

"Meredith – " Bailey started to talk, but Meredith stopped her.

"I know what you are going to say, but this ir my life and my choice. I want this. I am not ready to go back." She answered. Meredith knew that this talk won't be easy. She knew Bailey and she knew her beliefs. Bailey didn't like her choice to extend her maternity leave. Meredith saw it in her eyes.

"How long?" Was the only thing Bailey said to her. Meredith also knew that Bailey didn't have another choice but to let Meredith stay longer at home. It was her life after all. And above all of that, her husband was found alive and now she had more thing to worry about.

"'till Derek gets better. I don't know how long it will be."

Miranda signed. "It's your choice, Meredith, and I support it, but I would be happier if you would come back to work."

"I can't do it right now, Miranda. Not now, when Derek is alive." Meredith answered, but then her phone started ringing. She quickly said goodbye to Miranda and went outside.

"Meredith Shepherd." She answered.

"Hi, Meredith." Carolyn said. "Can you talk right now?"

"Yes, Carolyn." Meredith sat down in one of the hospital chair's and waited what her mother-in-law had to say. It was a miracle that she had called her, but at the same time last 24 hours had been a miracle.

"I'm sorry if I called you in the wrong moment. I can call you later."

"No, it's alright. I'm just tired, that's all."

"Oh… I booked the flight next morning. We will be in Seattle tomorrow's evening."

Hearing her say 'we' made Meredith shiver. All Shepherd woman from New York will fly to Seattle and she will have to see them. Meredith was already terrified to see Carolyn, but now when she will have to see Nancy, Liz and Kath, she was more terrified.

Seeing the rest of her sister-in-law made Meredith to feel scared. She was not ready to see them again. She didn't want to do it, but how she could say 'no' to her husband's family?

"Alright. Do you want me to get you from the airport?" Meredith was suprised about her words. She would have never said them before to her mother-in-law.

"No, we will find a way to the hospital." Carolyn said.

"Thank you for telling me this." Meredith said it from heart. This was one of the things that she really meant to say to her mother-in-law. After all she was just a woman, who had lost her child, but not get to know that he was alive.

"You don't have to thank me." Carolyn took a deep breath. "See you tomorrow, Meredith."

"See you."

It was past ten, when Meredith got home. Alex was sitting on the couch with Ellis in his hands. Max and Doc were again playing outside and her boys were playing on the floor. Hearing his mother's footsteps, Bailey looked up and saw Meredith. He quickly got up and ran to her shouting 'mommy and mommy is home!'. Meredith felt her youngest son's arms around her legs and soon after also Matt's and Chris' hands.

"Mommy, you are finally home!" Chris said and hugged harder her left leg.

"I missed you, mommy, so much!" Matt told to Meredith.

"Where were you, mommy? " Asked Bailey looking into his mom's eyes. They were in the same colour as his. Meredith smiled at her boys and kneeled down to hug them properly. She was happy to see them and was glad that they were alright. They were her little miracles, her meaning of life. She would do everything for them, even die.

Before Derek she never wanted to be a mother, but he changed it. He showed that kids are happiness and true joy, neverending love and miracle. They have changed Mer, her life and world. Without them or Derek she would be nothing.

"I was at the hospital." She smiled and looked into their eyes. "I was visiting someone."

"Aunt Bailey?" Asked Bailey and hugged his mother.

Meredith took a deep breath. "No, I was visiting…" She looked at Alex, who had stood up and was walking towards her. Ellis was in his arms wide awake and was hitting Alex's chest. "Someone special to me."

She didn't want to tell her kids about Derek, not before he woke up. Derek was their father and they loved him. Matt and Chris knew that daddy won't be coming home, that he was dead. They were smart kids and knew about death and what that meant. Telling them their dad was alive would change everything. They would want to see him, would say it to Bailey and he would also want to see his dad. Bailey was talking about him a lot and knew how he looked from pictures in their living room.

"Someone wants you." Alex said and pointed at Ellis. Meredith slowly stood up and took her daughter from his hands.

"Hi, sweetie!"She said and looked into Ellis'eyes. Ellis smiled at her mother and Meredith smiled back. She touched her cheek and looked at her boys. Twins were playing with their toys, but Bailey was standing next to her. Meredith took his small hand in hers and went to the kitchen.

"Why are you and your sibling are not sleeping?" Meredith asked to her son.

"We were waiting for you, mommy." Bailey answered and stood in front of his mother. "Can I get a cookie?"

Meredith laughed at his words, but gave him one chocolate cookie. "Here you go."

"Thank you, mommy!" He hugged Mer's leg and went to his brothers. Meredith smiled looking at her boys. They were happy and full with joy, not knowing that their father was alive and someday will wake up.

"How is he?" Asked Alex. Meredith turned around and looked into his dark eyes.

"We don't know why he isn't waking up. Doctors from Atlanta General and our doctors can't find a reason why he is in coma."

"He will wake up, Mer." Alex came over to her and put his hand around her shoulders. "He won't leave you alone again."

"I really hope." Meredith answered and felt the first tear on her cheek.

When Alex was gone, Ellis had already fell asleep and boys were walking around half asleep. She helped them to get into their beds and whished them goodnight. Bailey was the first one who fell asleep, and then Matt, but Chris didn't. He got out of his bed and went downstairs.

"Why are you not sleeping?" Meredith asked her son. She was standing in front of her bedroom's door wearing her pajamas.

"I couldn't sleep." He rubbed his eye and came closer to Meredith.

"Come here, honey." Meredith opened wider her bedroom door and allowed Chris to come in. He climbed into the bed and closed eyes. Meredith laid next to him and took her son in her arms. "Goodnight, Chris."

But she didn't get his replay, because Chris was already asleep next to her.