"Ava...do you want your baby doll?" Meredith asked as she changed Ava's diaper. His mother was out at a neighbor's for a dinner and it was a rare night that they had to themselves as a family. Although right now, everything seemed easier with his mother there. It was one more person cared about Ava and that was important. "It's on the night stand."
"Not right now." Ava laid in front of her coloring books, pulling another marker from the box next to her.
"How is your head feeling?" Meredith asked, sliding Zola's pajamas on. Ava had been complaining of a headache earlier in the day and they were monitoring every symptom.
"It feels better."
"Good." Meredith smiled, putting Zola in the playpen.
"Ava...what are you drawing?" Derek asked, looking over. He had been helping Hunter with his math homework.
"My family."
"Dad...I'm all done!" Hunter replied.
"Do you want me to check it?" He asked.
"Uh...sure?" Hunter said quietly, sliding it forward.
"Daddy look!" Ava held up the picture.
"One second, pumpkin."
"Dad...is it right?" Hunter asked.
"Re do this one." Derek pointed to the wrong answer he had spotted.
"Oh okay." Hunter replied, sliding the book back in front of him.
"Daddy!" Ava shouted.
"Yes?"
"Wanna see?" Ava held up her paper.
"She's been working rather hard." Meredith giggled, handing Zola her pacifier.
"That looks great, Aves." Derek smiled, kissing her head.
"Ava come here." Meredith sat down on the bed.
"What Mommy?"
"Let me feel your head."
"My head doesn't feel sick anymore."
"You feel a little clammy sweetie." Meredith frowned, lifting Ava onto her lap.
"Clammy?" Ava frowned.
"It just means your skin feels a little hot."
"Let me see..." Derek reached over and felt his daughter's forehead.
"Ava you need to try and have some of your juice." Meredith reached for a glass just as Zola tugged on Derek's pant leg.
"She feels fine to me." Derek said, lifting Zola up.
"Ava sip." Meredith held up the sippy cup.
"I'm not thirsty." Ava shook her head.
"Please Ava." Meredith frowned.
"Dad I'm all done!" Hunter shouted.
"Okay..." Derek stood up with Zola in his arms and took the paper from Hunter, checking the work he had re-done.
"Good job bud."
"Yes!" Hunter gasped.
"What do you have to do next?"
"I'm all done...can I play my game now?" Hunter stood.
"You don't have any more work?" Derek asked.
"Well I have to read a chapter in my book." Hunter admitted.
"Hunter...go read and then you can come back." Meredith replied, walking over to the dresser.
"Do I have to do it right now?" Hunter groaned.
"The sooner you do it, the sooner you'll be done." Derek told him.
"Fine." Hunter groaned, leaving the bedroom.
"Ava do you want your pink pajamas or your blue ones in the hospital? Your other's are in the wash...you know what...we'll take both." Meredith opened the drawers. They had been keeping Ava's stuff in their room because she had been sleeping with them.
"Pink!"
"We're taking both." Derek laughed.
"Can we take my pretty hats?" Ava asked.
"We can." Meredith replied, pointing to a bag on the side table. "There are a few of them in there."
"Is the pink one in there?" Ava reached for the bag.
"You know Ava...we're going to be in the hospital for a little while." Derek told her.
"Why?" Ava asked, sitting on the floor and pulling a purple hat with a large bow on it over her head.
"Because they have to give you more medicine this time."
"Derek your Mom and I picked up some size 4t clothes for Ava...stuff that will keep her warm as the months get colder." Meredith explained. "Can you remind me to put the laundry in before we go to bed?"
"I don't wanna go!" Ava shouted.
"Ava..." Derek frowned.
"No more medicine!" Ava screamed.
"Ava...you have to have medicine." Meredith sat down.
"Remember...it's going to make you better." Derek reminded her.
"It's boring and it makes my belly hurt." Ava replied, dumping the bag of hats on the floor.
"Pick those up please."
"No!" Ava giggled, tossing the hats around.
"Ba ha!" Zola laughed.
"Ava Sophia. Pick this up." Derek told her.
"I'm playing." Ava replied.
"Ava Sophia...pick those up right now."
"What's the problem?" Meredith walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
"Nothing." Derek sighed, picking up the hats.
"Daddy no!" Ava frowned.
"What's going on?" Meredith lifted Ava.
"Daddy I wanna play with them." Ava pouted.
"You want to play with the hats?"
"Yes please." Ava yawned.
"Ava take a sip and then you can play." Meredith held the sippy cup up to her daughter.
"Do I have to?" Ava groaned.
Julia says (9:10 PM)
"Yep." Meredith breathed.
"Fine." Ava took a sip of the juice. "Done."
"Very good." Meredith kissed both Zola and Ava's cheeks. "Now I can pack the rest of your stuff."
"Play with me Mommy."
"There is a lot to do Aves."
"No."
"I'll play with you." Derek said.
"Can you put Zola in the crib first?" Meredith asked.
"Yeah."
"Night Zola." Meredith kissed her baby girl before Derek left the room and she turned towards the dresser.
"Mommy...tell Daddy I don't need to go stay in the hospital."
"Ava it's not up to Daddy...its up to Arizona."
"Tell her I don't need to go to the hospital!"
"Daddy and I will be right there with you."
"But Mommy..."
"Yes?" Meredith sighed, moving to sit on the bed. She might be running around like a mad woman but wasn't going to leave her daughter when she needed her.
"It's scary in the hospital."
"You love the hospital when you used to come with us to work." Meredith pulled Ava into her lap.
"It's not the same." Her little girl sighed.
"I know."
"I'm not going." Ava crossed her arms.
"Sweetie you have to." Meredith replied, keeping a hand on her back. "We're helping you."
"Nope."
"Is there anything I can do to make it easier?" Meredith swallowed.
"Make me better."
"I wish it were that easy."
"Zo is asleep." Derek came back into the room.
"Hey." Meredith sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"I hate being sick." Ava burst into tears.
"Oh Ava." Derek sighed, sitting down next to them.
"Daddy and I aren't going to leave."
"But what if you forget I'm there and leave." Ava cried.
"We would never do that, sweetie." Derek whispered, rubbing her back.
"I don't like the hospital." Ava whimpered.
"I know you don't."
"Ava is there something you want...something we can get to make it easier tomorrow?" Meredith asked.
"Ice cream." She whispered.
"We can arrange that." Meredith wiped at her eyes quickly. "I um...why don't you go grab your princess tiara..."
"Can I wear it to get ice cream?"
"We will go get it tomorrow before your appointment."
"We're going to stay with you Ava...the whole time. Promise." Derek assured her.
"Okay." Ava wiped her eyes.
"I love you Miss. Ava." Meredith smiled, hugging Ava close.
"I love you too Mommy." Ava whispered.
"Go get your crown and tell Hunter to come in when he's done reading. I'll keep packing your stuff."
"Can I wear my crown in the hospital?"
"Yes." Derek laughed, kissing her head.
"You can do anything." Meredith hugged her tight before letting go.
"I'll be back." Ava ran out of their room.
"She's energetic but she looks tired." Meredith stood, walking over to the corner of the room to grab Ava's overnight bag.
"Hmm." Derek sighed.
"I'll grab a third pair of pajamas later when the laundry is done. I think being comfortable during the chemo is important since this one will take almost all day." Meredith groaned, tossing Ava's slippers into the bag.
"Okay."
"And books...we need books to read to her."
"Mer...why don't you take a nap. I'll finish packing."
"I...I can't. I need to do this."
"I can do it."
"You haven't shaved."
"Meredith."
"What?" Meredith sighed, tossing a few of Ava's soft hats into the bag.
"Let me finish this." Derek told her.
"I really am okay."
"I...fine." He shook his head.
"And you should shave." She turned, moving her hand over the hair that grazed his chin. "I usually love it when you don't shave and...well you can keep it. I still love it we just can't enjoy it. Usually we I love it...I do still love I just..."
"What?" Derek whispered.
"Daddy!" He heard Ava scream as she came into the bedroom.
"Yeah?"
"I got a boo boo." Ava said breathlessly as Derek lifted her up and she held out the inside of her arm to reveal a large bruise that hadn't been there this morning.
"Ava..." Meredith winced.
"Oh no." Derek frowned, kissing the bruise. "All better?"
"Yeah." Ava gasped.
"Good."
"Daddy I'm sleepy."
"Why don't you go get in bed and I'll come tuck you in for a nap, okay?"
"No." Ava groaned. "I gotta watch the movie with you and Hunter and Mommy."
"Why don't we go downstairs with Hunter...put a movie on and you can sit on my lap." Meredith suggested. "That way you can fall asleep if you want and we can keep you warm."
"Kay." Ava nodded.
"Go get your brother and we'll meet you downstairs." Derek told her.
"Okay." Ava's feet touched the ground and she walked quickly out of the room.
"I guess we're going to finish packing later."
"I guess so." Meredith replied, reaching for her phone.
"Hey...wait." Derek reached for her arm as she started to walk out of their room.
"What?" She sighed.
"Come here." He whispered, pulling her against him and wrapping his arms around her.
"Mmm...hey." Meredith breathed, releasing all of the tension in her body against her own will.
"Hi." Derek breathed, running his fingers through her hair.
"Ava has cancer." She whispered.
"I know." Derek said, pressing his lips against hers.
"Oh..."
"Mmm..."
"Oh...I..." Meredith ran her hands through his hair, pulling away suddenly.
"What?"
"We should go get the movie started."
"Right." Derek sighed.
"I just...let me focus on this right now."
"I'll be down in a minute." He sighed, sitting on the edge of their bed.
"Alright."
"Okay..." Derek whispered as Meredith walked out of their room. He was frustrated. Frustrated because his daughter was so sick and he couldn't fix it and frustrated because Meredith wouldn't let him help. He could see how much this was hurting her but for whatever reason, she wouldn't let him in and he needed his wife.