"Ellie, we have to go get your wheelchair today" Derek announced
"Mommy, can we come too?" Zola asked
"Derek?" Meredith asked his opinion,
"I don't see why not. Ellie, is that okay for you?" Derek asked the little girl
"Kay" She giggled, lucky for Meredith and Derek she reacted good on the idea of a wheelchair
"Let's get ready then" Derek smiled but saw Meredith's frown. He walked towards her and grabbed her hands "Go get yourself ready. I'll take care of the kids" He whispered but she shook her head
"I'll take Ellis, can you take Bails and Zo?" She asked as tears were welling up in her eyes
"Yell if you need us" Derek said and kissed her lips
Meredith gave a small nod and walked towards the kids "Bay, Zo, can you go get ready? Dad will help you if you need to. Ellie, you wanna come with me?"
Ellis stood up and grabbed Meredith's hand and walked down the hall
"P-ink d-ess!"
"Of course, I already thought you would pick that one. I made sure it's ready in your bathroom" Meredith smiled
Ellis ran off to her bathroom and Meredith helped her to undress
"Sh-ower?" Ellis asked
"Just washing with a washing cloth. We'll give you a bath tonight. How does that sound?"
"B-ath!" She smiled
"Tonight" Meredith smiled back and started washing the girl
"M-e Ch-air? Ellie, M-e ch-air t-day?"
"Yes, we'll go to the hospital and see Callie and get your chair and tomorrow we're going to the zoo, okay?"
"Z-oo! Affe! M-e see g-affe!
"You know that Bailey wants to see the elephants? He used to have a huge stuffed elephant" Meredith was telling her
"-Phant!" She giggled "S-illy Bay"
"Is Bails silly?" Meredith questioned
"Yeah" Ellis giggled
"Come on" Meredith smiled "Let's get you to your siblings. I still need to change" Meredith said and reached out her hand for Ellis who took it and together they walked into the living room
"Ellie! Look!" Bailey yelled as he sat down in front on the couch, looking at videos on Derek's Ipad
Ellis ran over to her brother and Meredith took this as her cue to get changed really quick while Derek was doing Zola's hair so he could easily keep an eye on Bailey and Ellis too
Meredith went to her own bathroom and quickly changed into some jeans and a comfortable sweater
"Mer? Are you almost ready?" Meredith could hear Derek's voice
"Coming" Meredith replied and couraged herself before walking out
...
"Hey Callie" Derek said as they entered the biggest PT room of the hospital
"Hi guys. Ellie, are you ready?" Callie asked Ellis after kneeling down a bit
Ellis nodded hesitated while holding Derek and Meredith's hand tight
"Ellie, you'll do great!" Bailey rubbed her back
Ellis smiled and slowly let go of her parents' hands and grabbed Callie's
"Let's try to get in by yourself. I'll help you" Callie said and walked to the pink wheelchair that was standing at the end of the room
"Oh my-" Meredith sighed as Callie helped Ellis climbing in
"She's doing great" Derek whispered in Meredith's ear
"I- I know" Meredith sighed, feeling heartbroken for her daughter. She would do anything to switch places
"Mommy? Will Ellie always need that?" Zola quietly asked, looking vulnerable and sad
"Only for long walks or when she's tired at home. She'll be able to do more by herself" Meredith said as she lowered herself and looked into Zola's dark eyes
"But we can help her when she's tired" Zola frowned
"I know Zo.. We will help her, we'll help her the rest of her life but this will be a good thing. I know it's scary and it's painful to see your sister like this but it will help her" Meredith said and rubbed Zola's arm
Zola nodded and looked at Ellis who was trying to make turns with the help of Callie
"Ellie, that's cool!" Bailey yelled as he was chasing Ellis who now was able to push herself
Meredith kept her arms protectively wrapped around Zola's body
"Can I run with Bailey?" She asks after a bit
"Of course" Meredith kissed Zola's head and she ran off. Meredith stood up and grabbed Derek's hand for support
"Aren't our kids the best?" Derek smiled
"They are" Meredith agreed
Ellis wheeled towards Meredith and Derek to show off the chair
"Look at you!" Derek smiled
"M-e f-ast! Ellie, m-e f-ast" She giggled as Bailey and Zola stopped next to her
"You're doing amazing. Take some time to practice and you'll be faster than anyone" Callie encouraged her
Ellis nodded
"Thanks Callie. Are we good to go? I was thinking to go get some ice cream with the kids" Derek said
"You're good to go" Callie nodded "Are you guys okay?"
"It will take a bit but everything for our kids" Derek said
Callie nodded and looked at Meredith
"We're fine" Meredith faked a smile
"Can we go now? I'm hungry" Bailey smiled
"Of course. Let's go" Derek said "Ellis, you wanna try out your new chair or rather walk?"
Ellis was thinking but it didn't take long "t-ry!"
The family made their way out of the hospital and Derek grabbed the handles of the chair when they arrived in the parking lot
Ellis got out and Meredith helped her in her booster seat while the older kids got in by themselves
"-Nilla!"
"Oh so you want vanilla ice?" Meredith laughed
"Ya -nilla!" Ellis smiled
"Can I have chocolate?" Bailey asked innocent
"Of course. I think I'll have a coffee taste!"
...
The next morning, Meredith was already busy with packing the stuff they need for the trip today
"Derek? Have you seen Bailey's sunglasses?" She asked
"I put them on the table" Derek answered as he grabbed his stuff to go for a shower
Meredith nodded and grabbed Bailey's sunglasses before grabbing drinks and preparing sandwiches
"Morning!" Bailey yelled as he ran into the room
"Morning Bails. Do you want cereal?" Meredith asked
"Fruity loops!"
"Sit down, I'll get it for you" Meredith smiled and walked to the kitchen
"I'll go wake up Zola and Ellis" Meredith told Bailey
Meredith walked to Zola's bedroom and woke up her oldest daughter "Wake up baby"
"Good morning" Zola smiled and rubbed her eyes
"Morning. Bailey's in the kitchen and dad is taking a shower. I'm gonna go wake up Ellis and get her ready. I made a bowl of fruity loops for you" Meredith smiled
"Thanks" Zola smiled and got up and left the room together with Meredith
Meredith braced herself against the wall as a wave of dizziness took over again
She waited a few minutes and walked into Ellis' room.
"Morning Ellie" Meredith whispered as her fingers brushed the little girl's blond hair before taking off the bin she was wearing
"M-ommy, h-i!" Ellis woke up with a smile
"Let's get you up" Meredith smiled and carried her into the bathroom and placed her on the chair
"Let's take these off" Meredith said, pointing at the night braces to prevent her pulling her arms and legs in
"T-day z-oo!"
"I can't wait to see the elephants and giraffes" Meredith smiled
"Affes!" Ellis repeated
"What do you wanna wear?" Meredith asked
"P-ink!" Ellis yelled
"I thought so. Let's see" Meredith laughed "Maybe this pink shirt and these jeans shorts?"
"Yaaa" Ellis agreed
"Let's change you, then we can have breakfast" Meredith kissed Ellis' head