"Mer, we need to go" Derek said as he entered Ellis' room where Meredith was dressing the little girl

"Are Zola and Bailey ready?" Meredith asked as he was putting on Ellis' shoes

"Already waiting in the car" Derek smiled

"She's almost ready, aren't you Ellie?" Meredith smiled

Ellis nodded and went back to fidgeting with her shirt

"Let's put on your jeans jacket and then we're ready to go" Meredith smiled

Meredith lifted the girl and placed her on her hip. She and Derek made their way to the car and buckled Ellis into the carseat before driving to Grey-Sloan Memorial.

"Okay guys. Here you go. We'll come pick you up once Ellis is done" Derek said

Bailey and Zola ran off inside daycare while Meredith, Derek and Ellis made their way upstairs to peds where Alex and Arizona were already waiting

"Hey guys" Alex smiled "Hi Ellie" he waved

Ellis waved back at Alex before turning to Arizona

"H-i"

"Hi, Ellis. Are you ready for today?" Arizona asked her but Ellis violently shook her head no

"Hey, hey. Mommy and I will be here all the time" Derek said as he gently rubbed her back

"We should go.." Arizona announced and led them to an examination room. "So, how has she been?" Arizona asked outside of the room when Alex was getting her ready inside

"We barely see any more evolution in her motor skills, her fingers refuse to work sometimes. Her spasms and cramps have been very bad lately, which concerns us a lot. Her speech is getting a lot better, she's getting really good at talking, except of course when she's tired or when her emotions are all over the place" Derek starts explaining

"Her walking concerns us too. She keeps asking to get carried, she barely finds enough stability to walk from the couch to her room without falling or needing to stabilize herself.. only the stroller seems to help her if we go out" Meredith explained

"Let's go in and see" Arizona gave them a smile to comfort them "Hi Ellis, can I examine you?"

"N-o b-oo" Ellis said and nodded her head

"I'll try not to hurt you and if I hurt you, just tell me, okay?"

Ellis nodded again and did everything Arizona asked her to do.

Lift her legs, stretch her arms, follow the light, can you remember a few words for me,...

"Does it sometimes hurt to walk?" Arizona asked

"T-i-red f-ist, b-oo af-ter" Ellis explained

"Can you walk to the wall and back for me?" Arizona asked and lifted the girl to the ground

"M-ommy?"

"It's okay baby. Just try" Meredith smiled at her daughter

Ellis made her way to the wall, her arms finding her balance. She turned around and walked back. Her feet pointed inwards as she took her small but exited steps

"Good job" Alex high fives the little one

"Yeay!" Ellis said which made the adults chuckle

"I wanna take her for some x rays to see if everything is growing well, then I'll discuss the results with you" Arizona said and lifted the girl on her hip

"M-ommy c-ome?" Ellis asked

"Of course" Meredith agreed and followed Arizona, leaving Derek and Alex in the room

"What do you think?" Derek asked

"I'm not sure without the x rays but I'm scared her motor functions won't change much anymore and she might need a wheelchair in the future, just to replace the stroller for long walks and maybe at home when she's tired

Derek was shocked. His little girl in a wheelchair.. not that he wouldn't love her anymore, they knew this was a possibility but no one wants to see one of their loved ones struggle this much in life, especially not your 5 year old daughter

Derek nodded as a tear ran down his cheek and Alex placed his hand on Derek's shoulder

"She'll be okay. She's a tough one" Alex gave a sad smile. It hurts them to see his goddaughter and friends going through all of this

...

"Alex is watching Ellis, I would like to discuss some things with you" Arizona told them, knowing this would hit hard

"Everything was clean on the x rays, so her trouble walking is caused by the brain damage she suffered during her birth"

"What does this mean?" Meredith asked, already knowing the answer

"I can't provide that it will get better. She might need a walker or wheelchair but I would suggest both so she keeps stimulated to help herself. See it as a form of independence"

Meredith and Derek both nodded

"So.. wheelchair fitting is next?" Derek spoke up

Arizona nodded

"Okay" Meredith sighed and Derek grabbed her hand "Everything for our little girl" She whispered as she looked into Derek's eyes

"I can ask Callie to do it. It might be comforting for Ellis to see someone she already knows and who understands her" Arizona said and again, Meredith and Derek nodded their heads

"I'll page her right away so we can start" Arizona said

"Can we go see her and try to explain?" Derek asked

Arizona nodded so both Meredith and Derek left the room and made their way towards the examination room Ellis was in.

"Thanks Alex for watching her" Derek said

"No problem. Go rock it, Ellie" Alex smiled and waved goodbye

Ellis giggled a bit and nodded before waving goodbye

"Ellie, Callie is coming. You're getting a bit too big for your stroller so she's gonna help you find a good..-" Meredith started but couldn't finish

"We're gonna find you a nice wheelchair so you can get around by yourself easier when you're tired" Derek smiled a bit, trying to not show his emotions

"Kay" Ellis smiled

"Hi guys" Callie said as she entered the room

"Hi" Ellis smiled

"Can you guys come with me? Ellie, I have a special room here in the hospital so we can know what fits you best, do you wanna come and explore it with me?" Callie asked Ellis

Ellis nodded and reached her arms out for her parents

"Can I?" Meredith asked Derek

"Of course" He smiled and placed a kiss on her temples as she picked up the girl

...

"P-ink!" Ellis giggled

"You want it in pink? Of course you do" Derek laughed

Ellis nodded again and tried to push herself in the test wheelchair

"You're doing great" Callie smiled

Meredith was watching her daughter and was close to breaking down "I need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back" She said and kissed Ellis' head before leaving the room, running to the bathroom and vomiting

"Meredith?" Alex' voice was heard

"Coming" Meredith forced out, letting her sobs stop

"Are you okay?" Alex asked as Meredith exited the restroom

"I'm fine" She replied and washed her hands

"Hey" Alex said and pulled her in his arms

"I need to go to my daughter" Meredith whispered

"No, take a minute" Alex pushed and kept her in his arms

"My baby.. it's my fault" She sobbed

"Mer, you couldn't have done a thing" Alex rubbed her back

"I should have protected her" Meredith whispered

"You did everything you could and you still do. Ellis gets every opportunity she deserves, you guys work so hard to give her a normal shot in life and she's doing it! We never thought she would have been able to talk or walk at all"

"I- I know" She sobbed "I'm okay" She whispered

"You're not but it's okay for now. Let's go see Ellis" Alex said

"Okay" Meredith sighed and she and Alex took off