It had been almost two weeks since Ava's first treatment and Derek was so glad to see her feeling better. She still got tired a lot easier than before and needed a lot more rest but she wasn't getting sick anymore. Things had been as normal as possible in the house. Hunter was getting used to his new school and Meredith planned on starting Ava on her homeschooling after the next treatment which
was scheduled for a week from then.
"Thanks for coming over, Amelia." Derek smiled, handing his sister a mug of coffee as they sat down in the living room. The house was quiet, like it was supposed to be at this time of day. But instead of being at school, Ava was taking a ride around town with his mom in an attempt to get her out of the house and give her a little change of scenery.
"No problem...the only other thing I would do on my day off is shop or go to the bar and neither one seemed like the best use of my time." Amelia joked.
"So I'm saving your money and your liver." Derek smiled.
"I knew I liked you."
"Yeah yeah." He laughed, taking a sip of his coffee.
"It's good that Mom took Ava on a ride to get her out of the house. She probably feels like she's being kept in a bubble."
"She kind of is."
"It sucks."
"It does." Derek sighed.
"She's going to get better." Amelia said confidently. "I know it."
"She's doing well...so far."
"Part of me wonders in what kind of fucked up world does my niece...who is only five get cancer? I mean I'm a brain surgeon and we both see cancer all the time and we
"Part of me wonders in what kind of fucked up world does my niece...who is only five get cancer? I mean I'm a brain surgeon and we both see cancer all the time and we're amazed and motivated but then Ava has cancer and it's screwed up." Amelia sighed.
"I've thought about that every day since she got diagnosed."
"Makes me feel shitty." Amelia replied, before sipping at her coffee.
"We should be drinking something stronger." Derek laughed weakly, looking down at his coffee.
"Could you imagine the look on Mom's face if she came home and found us drinking before eleven in the morning on a Saturday?"
"She'd smack the both of us."
"I'll spike her cranberry juice."
"Good luck with that one." He laughed.
"She loves me."
"That's how you got away with all of the crap you pulled in high school."
"Well after the shit you and Mark always pulled...I was practically a saint."
"We weren't that bad."
"You weren't that good."
"Shut up."
"Derek Christopher Shepherd!"
"You sound like Mom."
"Oh boy."
"I can't imagine doing this without all of you around." Derek breathed.
"It's what we're here for and I mean...you saved my life when I was stupid and young and...my point is that this family is coming together because Ava needs us. I would die for her Derek...if it meant she was okay." Amelia said slowly. "And it doesn't hurt that this is our chance to convince you guys to move back here."
"I should have known that was coming."
"Thought I should slip it in there."
"The kids whole life is in Seattle."
"But your whole life...I mean you and Meredith's life was here and when Hunter was a baby you left and it might be good for you guys to have family and all of your friends here. It's just the five of you in Seattle."
"We do have friends, Amelia."
"You know what I mean."
"Moving there was something we had to do." Derek shrugged his shoulders.
"Listen I did the move away and travel and party and now I took a job in the city...I kick ass at my job and I kind of secretly enjoy having family here." Amelia admitted. "Meredith's best friends are here. You have family...your butt buddy Mark is here."
"You're so sweet."
"I try." Amelia laughed, reaching for a muffin from the center of the table.
"I guess it's something to think about...once Ava's in remission." Derek leaned back on the couch.
"Besides...if Ava wants to have her scars fixed...so they don't appear as strong do you really think Mark is going to let anyone else do it?"
"You have a point there."
"And I need someone to help me out when Nancy attacks me for being too risky with my life."
"You're on your own with that one."
"Jerk."
"My daughter has cancer. The last thing I need is for my sister to do something stupid."
"What else could I possibly do that is more stupid from anything else I've done?"
"True." Derek laughed as the front door opened and Meredith and Hunter came in, their cheeks pink from the cool air."
"It's October and its freezing out there." Meredith took her gloves off and sat them on the kitchen table before walking over to kiss her husband. "Where is my baby?"
"My Mom took her out for a little while." Derek answered.
"Does Ava have a coat on?" Hunter asked quickly.
"I helped Grandma put on both Ava and Zola's coat and hat." Amelia added.
"Did you have fun at the park?" Derek asked his son.
"Yeah." Hunter laughed. "Did you know Mom can still do the monkey bars?"
"Really?"
"Yeah and she even flipped over on the pull up bar thing...it was real cool."
"I'm flexible." Meredith winked at Derek.
"I know." Derek smirked.
"Gross." Amelia winced, standing and walking over to the sink.
"It's really cold out." Hunter said, sitting down on the couch next to Derek.
"It is." Meredith agreed, sitting on the other side of Derek.
"Is all of your homework done?" Derek asked.
"Yeah." Hunter replied.
"Good boy."
"What if Ava isn't warm enough?"
"I'm sure she is. She's in the car with Grandma."
"Does Grandma have a car sear for her and Zola?"
"She does." He nodded.
"Good." Hunter sat back on the couch just like his father.
"You took my seat, little man." Amelia laughed, sitting in the arm chair across from them.
"You love me." Hunter grinned, before leaning forward to grab a muffin off the coffee table.
"You are just like your dad."
"Not a bad thing." Derek smiled.
"Debatable." Meredith laughed.
"Hey..." Derek frowned.
"What?" Meredith giggled.
"It's a good thing Mark isn't here." Amelia laughed.
"Okay...enough ganging up on me." Derek pouted his lips.
"Poor you." Meredith kissed him quickly.
"Poor me."
"Oh gosh..." Amelia groaned.
"Gross." Hunter covered his eyes.
"Hunter are they always like this?" Amelia laughed.
"All the time."
"We are not!" Meredith gasped.
"I feel sorry for you." Amelia reached over and covered her nephew's eyes as Derek kissed Meredith again.
"Derek..." Meredith giggled.
"What?" He grinned.
"You are being...mischievous." Meredith laughed.
"Hey Mom..." Hunter interrupted.
"Yes?" Meredith looked over at her son, sitting up quickly.
"Shouldn't Ava be home now?"
"Well I think Grandma was going to go through the drive through and get her a drink before they drove around. I'm sure they're fine buddy." Meredith smiled weakly.
"She has to take a nap."
"I'll lay down with her when she gets home."
"But..."
"Grandma wouldn't have taken her out if she wasn't okay." Derek assured his son.
"Okay." Hunter sighed, leaning back again.
"I promise, bud."
"Hunter why don't you go and finish your homework before they get home and then you don't have to touch it all weekend." Meredith suggested.
"Okay." Hunter breathed. "Will you tell me when she's home?"
"You will know as soon as she gets home." Meredith agreed.
"Alright." He got up off of the couch and headed upstairs.
"Kid walks around like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders." Amelia sighed, sitting back on the couch.
"Huh?" Meredith looked up.
"You can't tell how worried he is?" Amelia asked
"Well I know he's worried..."
"We're all worried." Derek added.
"He's a good big brother...like Derek was." Amelia replied.
"He is." Derek sighed.
"I just feel bad for Hunter and Zola...I want them to have the same amount of attention. Our children come first...all three of them." Meredith replied. "And Amelia is right...he's worried."
"He's trying to fix everything and take care of his sister and he's only eight." Amelia added.
"Leave the psychiatrist talk to Kathleen." Derek groaned.
"Derek..." Meredith hit his arm, before looking over at Amelia. "She's right."
"I just...we're doing the best we can."
"She never said we weren't."
"I know..."
"We have to try and make this easier on him too." Meredith replied, running her fingers through her hair.
"I know." Derek sighed.
"You're doing a great job, Der." Amelia smiled sympathetically. "And you know I'll do anything I can to help in any way I can."
"I don't think there is a rulebook for this." Meredith laughed weakly.
"I'm going to let you guys have some...alone time." Amelia stood up. "Call me if there's anything I can do."
"Thanks." Meredith smiled.
"Bye Der." She patted her brother's shoulder and then left.
"Hunter's really worried."
"I don't know what to do."
"We should probably just...check in on him more." Meredith replied, resting her head on his chest.
"Yeah." He sighed as his mom came in the door with Zola in her arms and Ava walking next to her.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Ava grinned.
"Hi baby girls." Meredith stood quickly, running over to lift Ava into her arms.
"How was your ride?" Derek asked, taking Zola from his Mom.
"Good." Ava replied.
"We listened to the Tangled soundtrack and drove around until we heard every song." His mother laughed. "Twice."
"Oh yeah?" He laughed.
"It was fun." Ava giggled.
"You must be tired."
"No." Ava giggled again, hiding her face in Meredith's long blonde waves.
"What about if you and I go lay down upstairs?" Meredith asked.
"But I'm not sleepy."
"Not even if we take a nap together?" Meredith whispered.
"Can I tell Hunter what we did first?" Ava asked.
"Yes." Meredith putting her down.
"Alright!" Ava ran up the stairs ahead of Meredith.
"I'll follow Meredith and Ava upstairs and put Zola down for her nap." His mother offered.
"Thanks Mom." Derek sighed, leaning back on the couch.
"Derek...I'll be back." Meredith breathed. "After a short nap."
"Take your time." He smiled weakly.
"Love you." She mouthed before, leaving him alone in the living room.
"Love you too." He whispered. Amelia was right and he knew it. He knew that his son was taking on a load that he shouldn't have to carry in worrying about his sister and he knew that he needed to do a better job of making sure Hunter was okay and knew what was going on. Even if he was only eight years old, he was a smart eight years old and he certainly was aware of everything going on around him and neither Meredith nor Derek could shield him from it.