Leave a light on

8

"Daddy? Can we go outside now?" Bailey asked

"Well, go put on your shoes and a jacket and then we'll go outside. I'll help mama get ready"

"Yeay! Zola! Ellis!" Bailey ran off

Derek had to chuckle at the silliness of his son. "Mer? Wanna come outside with us?" Derek asked as he came closer to Meredith who was resting on the couch

"Yeah" She smiled and sat up when Derek held his arm around her waist

"Hmm" She groaned as they walked to the hallway

Derek gave Meredith's coat and helped her put on some sneakers before they went in the garden and sat down

"Mommy! Look how high I can go on the swing" Bailey yelled

"Mommy! I made a sandcastle" Ellis yelled

"Mommy, look!" Zola yelled

The time was filled with the kids yelling for 1.000 things that they wanted to show for as long as they were outside.

"Daddy? I'm hungry" Ellis said

"Well it's almost lunchtime. Should we go in and eat something?" Derek asked the kids

"Can we have ham and cheese sandwiches?" Bailey asked Derek with big eyes

"Of course" Derek said and all of them made their way inside

"Need a hand?" Meredith asked

"No, I'm already done" He said and walked to the table with all of the sandwiches

"Okay" she sighed

"Mer, I didn't-"

"Derek, it's okay" she smiled

Everyone grabbed a sandwich and started eating. Bailey was already on his second while Meredith barely took a few bites

"Want something else?" Derek asked

"I'm good. It's just- it.. I.." she stammered

"Tell me" Derek put his hand on her thigh.

"I'm out of breath, every bite I take, I'm not hungry and I don't taste a thing of what's on it" She said

"Mer, you could have said this sooner" Derek said as his fingers went through Meredith's hair "The taste is probably just because you have an infection and don't feel well"

"I know" she sighed

"Can I do anything to help you?" Derek asked her

"No" She said and placed the sandwich back before placing her head on his shoulder.

"Wanna go back to bed?" Derek asked her

She shook her head "I'm gonna stay here" She muttered as her eyes were drooping

Derek finished the last bite and helped her get comfortable again.

"Thanks" She whispered before some soft snores filled the room

"Dad? Can we go for a walk?" Bailey asked

'Bails, I.. I'm not sure. Maybe we should stay close to mommy"

Bailey nodded and continued eating

...

"Wow! Dad, can we try this?" Zola and Bailey asked as they ran in, showing an article on their Ipad

"Hmm.. Making a rocket yourself?" He questioned "We can see if we have all the equipment" Derek smiled and took off with them while Meredith and Ellis were watching a movie

"Mommy! I wanna be like her!!" She yelled

'You're already my little princess" Meredith said as she stroked Ellis' hair

"Then you're a queen, mommy!"

"Am I?" Meredith laughed and turned into some small coughs.

"Yes! And daddy is the king and Bailey can be the prince while Zo and I are the princesses!" The girl kept telling Meredith

"Hmm" Meredith smiled

"Can we have a tea party?" Ellis asked

"Why don't we go ask dad?" Meredith suggested and slowly stood up, putting off the nasal cannula. "Grab my hand" She said

Ellis grabbed her hand and they slowly made their way outside where Zola, Bailey and Derek were crafting

"Dad!" Ellis yelled and Derek turned his head to look at her when he saw Meredith up without her oxygen, already wheezing a bit. He helped her into the swinging chair and ran inside to grab her oxygen and placed it on her face.

"Mommy and I came to ask if we can do a tea party because we're a royal family" The little girl told them

"Dad.. I don't wanna" Bailey complained

"Just do it" Zola said

"But I don't want to" He kept complaining

"Why don't we finish this and then we can have a tea party?" Derek suggested

...

"Mommy, do you want some sugar?" Zola asked

"I.. would.. love too" Meredith smiled

"Mer?" Derek questioned and jumped up to check her oxygen

"Der.. can you.. bring me.. to the toilet?" She asked

"Kids, we'll be right back" Derek smiled and scooped up Meredith

He hurried her to the hallway

"Don't need.. to pee.. No.. No air" She struggled

"Mer, I'll change you to your mask. I'll bring you to the bedroom" He said and carried her upstairs.

"No.. kids"

"Mer, you're gonna lay down first and have some oxygen. I'll go downstairs, grab your nebulizer and we're gonna give you some extra meds." Derek said, stern

Meredith nodded as Derek helped her lay down in the bed

As Derek left the room her chest started to feel even heavier and she was panting.

"Der" She tried to yell as she started to become nervous

After a couple of minutes, Derek finally returned with all the supplies when he saw her fighting for every breath she took.

"Der" She whispered, tears in her eyes. He came closer and she grabbed his arm

"Shh, Mer. Calm down. I'm here, nothing will happen. I'll set the nebulizer ready" He said and put the medicine into the machine and helped her through her treatment but it didn't help as much as he hoped.

"Mer, I'm bringing you to the hospital" He said and she nodded. He expected her to fight this, this made him realize how bad the situation became

Derek yelled after Zola and closely after, she ran in

"Zo, help your siblings put on their shoes and jackets. We'll go to the hospital" Derek said, trying to stay calm

"Is mom okay?" She asked

"Mom is okay but it's better if we bring her in" Derek said

Zola ran downstairs and Derek scooped her up and brought her downstairs. He placed her on a chair and helped her to put on her coat. She still had the oxygen mask on her face and he brought her to the car. She started to calm down but her breaths were heavy.Derek helped the kids get buckled up in their car seats and took off, holding Meredith's hand and squeezing it tightly.

AN // Hey! I finished this chapter earlier than expected. I also published a new story 'Million pieces' go check it out please! :-)