Leave a light on

7

Derek woke up the next morning, Meredith was sleeping at his side, her arm around his waist and her head against his shoulder. Her breaths were heavy but she wasn't wheezing. He got up, checked her nasal cannula and walked into the bathroom. He left the door open so he could hear her if she would wake up.

Derek quickly took a shower and dressed into some regular clothes. He fixed his hair and walked back into their bedroom. Meredith was still sleeping when he heard some soft knocks on their bedroom door. He opened the door and Bailey stood in front of it

"Hey bud. Did you sleep well?" Derek asked

The boy nodded his head "Is mommy awake?"

"Not yet, wanna wake her up so we can go downstairs?" Derek asked

"Can I lay down with mommy for a bit?"

"Of course. Be gentle, I'm gonna wake up your sisters, okay?" Derek asked him

Bailey nodded again and got in his parents' bed, crawling under the blankets and his head resting on Meredith's side

When Meredith woke up a bit later, all three kids had joined her in the bed. She craned her head but burst into coughings.

"Mer?" She heard Derek's voice

"Mor-ning" She said as she was catching her breath

"Mommy!" The kids yelled and sat up

"Hi" She whispered

"Wanna get downstairs for some coffee and breakfast?" Derek asked her with a smile

She nodded and Derek helped her up. Taking her oxygen in his left arm while his right arm was around his wife's waist, trying to give her some more support to make the way downstairs.

Halfway the stairs she started wheezing and her legs couldn't hold her anymore. Derek was right on time to scoop her up and carry her to the couch

"Thanks" She whispered as he gave her a kiss before he changed her nasal cannula for the mask.

"Coffee?" He asked her as she nodded her head.

"Mommy! Here's a cupcake!" Ellis handed her the cupcake

"Thanks, sweetie" She smiled and started taking a small bite.

When Derek returned, she already placed the cupcake back on the table "Want some French toast?" He asked

"No.. I don't feel like eating" She sighed

"Mer, you'll need to eat, otherwise Bailey will have to give you a feeding tube"

"Derek, I'm not hungry" She said

"Mer, I know, I understand but you need food" He begged

"I know! I'm still a doctor!" She yelled, immediately regretting her outburst as she started panting "I can.. still.. take care.. of myself!" She added

"Mer, calm down. Please."

"I.. I don't-" She stopped

"Shh, just breathe"

"Can-Can't"

"Yes you can" Derek rubbed her back as her hand was resting on her chest

"Come on, Mer. Your oxygen is dropping" Derek held her in his arms

"Mommy?" Ellis' voice was heard

"Ellie, go to your siblings for a bit, will you? Mommy's okay" Derek said, hiding Meredith in his arms so Ellis wouldn't see her lips that were slightly turning blue

"Cough.. can't" Meredith sputtered out, her hand grabbing his bicep

"Shh, I'll help" Derek said and tried to push on her stomach to help her with assistant coughing

The thick mucus left her lungs and were dripping out of her mouth but Derek was there and immediately wiped it away.

"Hate.. this" She said as a tear left her eyes

"Once this infection is over, it will be a bit better

"Still.." She sighed "I don't want the kids.. to see all.. of this"

"I know, but they love you and they are scared and they wanna take care of you" Derek said

"Still.. they're kids. They don't need to take care of their mom" She took a deep breath "They need to enjoy their lives"

"Mer, don't worry about that. I'm sure they would ask questions if we would keep them out of this"

She sighed and leaned into Derek's arms

"Mer, I really think we should move to the old house" Derek said

Meredith looked at Derek with sad eyes. She knew this would be the safest option but she didn't want to turn their lives upside down.

"I.. I don't know" She said, looking in her lap

"What if we discuss this another time?" Derek asked

Meredith nodded

"I'll get you some juice and French toast before I give you your meds. Will you be fine?"

Meredith nodded again. Derek checked her oxygen and went to the kitchen

"Mommy?" Bailey asked

"Hi" Meredith smiled

"Ellie came to us, she was scared" Bailey frowned

"I'm okay" She smiled

"She's with Zo in her room" Bailey told her

"Can all 3 of you come here?" Meredith asked

Bailey nodded and ran to Ellis' room to go get them. Soon enough the 3 little kids entered the living room.

"Come here, I'm okay" Meredith smiled

The two oldest children immediately crawled in Meredith's embrace

"Ellie?" Meredith looked sad as her daughter seemed to hesitate if she would come closer or not

Ellis' lip started shivering and Zola ran over to hug her "Come to mommy" Zola said once she pulled away and grabbed her sister's hand and led her to her mom

"Breakfast" Derek said as he walked back in, noticing the sad smiled on their faces

"Hey? What happened?" Derek asked as he placed the tray on the coffee table and walked to them

"They just had a little scare" She told him

Derek held Bailey close to him

"You okay now?" Meredith asked them

The kids nodded

"If you ever.. feel scared or.. overwhelmed.. you can always tell us" She told them as her eyes started to droop

"Okay, mommy" Zola spoke up

"What do you guys think of a lazy day? We'll lay on the couch all day and watch some old home videos?" Derek suggested

"Can we play outside?" Bailey asked

"Of course" Derek smiled

"Mommy, can you come?" Ellis asked

"Of course I can" Meredith gave her a smile

"But first breakfast!" Derek said and grabbed the tray