It felt weird walking the streets of Seattle but it also felt wildly comforting to Meredith, although a lot had changed in the five years she'd been living in New York including her favourite patisserie that was just outside of the city. Ever since they had settled back into Seattle she had craved a vanilla latte and almond croissant from this specific place so when they fully had time they decided to go as a family but they quickly learnt the change when they saw the buckets and baskets of flowers outside.
"It's gone." Meredith started at the shop, her voice tinged in disappointment.
"Yeah, looks like it." Derek pouted as he held Ellyse.
"That is so disappointing, I used to love this place."
"I'm sure we can find somewhere else." He smiled.
"That is so not the point." She giggled.
"Hot chocolate momma?" Ellyse looked at her, holding her head up from Derek's shoulder.
"Soon Ells. Let's go inside anyway, I wanna buy your mom some flowers to say thanks for letting us stay at her place whilst the house was getting sorted. She didn't have to do that." Meredith smiled as they walked through the green wooden door.
The doorbell rang alerting the shopkeeper that they had guests, quickly an older lady came out from the room behind the counter, her red hair short and curly as she greeted the, with a beautiful smile.
"Well hello there, I haven't seen you before." She smiled at the couple.
"Hi, yeah we just moved back here from New York. I'm Derek and this is Meredith." Derek introduced himself holding out his hand.
"Nice to meet you, I'm June. Who is this princess?" June smiled at Ellyse who was shy holding to Derek.
"She's not normally this shy. This is Ellyse." Meredith laughed.
"What a beautiful name."
"Thanks, you have a beautiful shop." Meredith looked around at all the different colours.
"Thank you dear, I just bought it around two years ago. It was a patisserie before my shop."
"That's actually why we came, I haven't stopped thinking about the croissants here since we returned."
"Meredith used to come here every morning before school for a vanilla latte and almost croissant." Derek smiled.
"Ah, well I'm sorry to disappoint." June joked.
"Don't be silly, we were hoping you could help us choose some flowers for my mom." Derek asked politely.
"Of course I can! What's the occasion?"
"Just a thank you." He smiled as Ellyse asked to be put down.
He put her down on the floor as she walked to see some of the flowers.
"Well if you come this way I have some beautiful peonies, or lillie's are a great way to express gratitude."
"I like the pink and white lillie's Der." Meredith smiled turning back to look for Ellyse.
"Me too."
"Ellyse, come here my love." Meredith called over. "What do you think of those pretty pink flowers for grandma?"
"I like those ones better." She pointed to where she'd just come from.
June giggled at the girl. "Show me dear."
Ellyse walked back over, watching as the adults followed her. She pointed at a bouquet of white rose and pink lotus flowers.
"Those are beautiful." Meredith gasped.
"Yeah, those are special flowers. Good job!" June nodded.
"Well take those June, they are perfect." Derek turned to her.
"Right way, if you would just follow me to the counter, I'll get you all checked out."
June packaged the flowers up beautifully and popped in a small card for Derek and Meredith to write on, she tied a light pink ribbon around the box holding the flowers together and gave them the flower food to keep them alive.
"You're all ready to go, thank you." She smiled
"Thanks June. Have a wonderful day." Derek smiled.
"You too. Meredith?"
"Yeah." She smiled
"The owners of the patisserie." Meredith nodded, "they have a new one three blocks left." She smiled.
A smile appeared on her face as she giggled, "you life saver."
"Bye now." She waved to the family watching as Meredith held the small girls hand tightly as they exited the shop.
They began rediscovering their neighbourhood as they walked through market stalls smelling fresh coffee all around and seeing stands full of colour with fruit. Meredith felt a surge of excitement when she came face to face with the patisserie she'd loved and missed, they went inside and found a table to sit at, Ellyse's eyes quickly drawn to the cake case that was in front of them.
"Those looks good huh." Derek laughed at her as she nodded her head eagerly.
"I want the chocolate one!" Ellyse pointed out.
"Why don't you get the blueberry muffin Ells and you can have a hot chocolate then. Too much chocolate will hurt your tummy." Meredith offered.
"Okay! What are you getting daddy?"
"I'm going to get a coffee and a bagel."
"Mmm I love bagels." She looked up under her lashes making her parents laugh.
"You do? Hmm, maybe you can try some." Derek tickled her.
"Well I know what I'm getting." Meredith said as she got up and went to the counter to order. It didn't take long and it was brought to their table.
Ellyse dug into her blueberry muffin fast, crumbs of cake all around her mouth as her blue eyes sparkled in enjoyment and excitement, Meredith snapped a photo of her taking a big bite into it, the muffin looking bigger than her, before she put down her phone and took her first sip of her vanilla latte.
"Oh my. I have missed that so so much you have no idea" Derek smirked as he watched her, shaking his head.
"You're saying that absolutely no where in New York could make a vanilla latte as nice as that one?"
"Exactly" Meredith pointed at him as she bit into her croissant.
"Daddy can I bite your bagel?" He looked at his daughter.
"I can't have anything with you two." He joked
"You have me daddy and I have your bagel." Ellyse giggled loudly and so did Meredith.
"We're in for it." He raised his eyes at Meredith.
"Don't I know it. At least she's calling you daddy and not Derek." She continued laughing.
"Dewek" Ellyse smirked watching Derek cover his face with his hands and groan, Meredith gave her a high five.
"What's mommy's name?" Derek smirked at Meredith.
"Mommy." Ellyse replied making Meredith smirk in triumph. "You're so silly dewek."
"Yeah Derek." She scoffed.
They spent time together in the cafe, sitting there and enjoying the time for around two hours before they noticed Ellyse was getting a little bit bored so they decided to go. Meredith left a tip in the jar on the counter and held her daughter's hand as Derek held her other, them both swinging her into the air as they walked. As the shortly approached Carolyn's house, Ellyse held the bouquet of flowers that almost blocked her eyesight as she stood in front of her grandma's front door.
"Derek, Meredith, how many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to knock." She said behind the door as she walked to it. Derek rolling his eyes at the statement.
"My goodness! Who are these for?" Carolyn gasped as she bent down towards Ellyse.
"There for you grammma!" Ellyse jumped nearly dropping them.
"Woahh." Meredith grabbed them quickly
"For me? What for?" She looked up at her son and pretty much daughter in-law
"We just wanted to say thank you for helping us out since we moved, you really didn't have to so, just, thank you." Meredith told her with a smile, Dereks arm wrapped around her waist.
"Well thank you, but I'm always here to help you guys, that's my job." Carolyn blushed gracefully.
"Mom just accept the flowers and the thank you." Derek laughed as they moved to walk into the house.
"You're just like your father Derek Christopher." She hit him over the back of his head gently making Ellyse laugh.