Chapter 25

"This is Zola. She's six months old, born with spina bifida..." Alex says.

"Adorable African children. Shameless ego stroking. Karev is a genius." Cristina says.

"He's single-handedly stealing chief resident out from under all of us and we're helping him do it. We can't exactly refuse to treat little sick kids without making ourselves look bad." Jackson says."Karev's kicking our ass." I grumble folding my arms.

"He's a genius." April says before starting to speak a foreign language making us all glance at her. "That's what they say in Swahili." She shrugs.

"Well he only has a shot because I've been benched. The playing field has been leveled, you're all welcome." Cristina says.

"My Alzheimer's trial kicks African orphan ass, it'll kick all of your asses." Meredith smirks.

"Hey I still have a slight chance. I've logged more OR time then all of you." I say.

"You wanna keep it down back there. I'm trying to listen to what appears to be the next chief resident talking." Chief says making me roll my eyes.

"Before we go, I wanna say thank you to all of you for your participation. It truly means more than I can say." Alex says making the attendings clap.

"Slow clap, they're giving him the slow clap. Come on, I'm not giving him the slow clap." Jackson's says bitterly making me laugh. After we're dismissed Jackson goes to work with Chief and I follow Derek since I'm on his service today.

"Makena, hi I'm Dr Shepherd this is Dr. Garcia, we're here to take a look at Zola today." Derek says to the lady holding the adorable crying baby, before Derek grabs the baby.

"Sometimes babies with spina bifida can develop Chiari malformation." Derek says.

"It causes fluid build up in the brain. It can be pretty uncomfortable, but sometimes if you adjust the patients head position." I say.

"It helps relieve the pressure, let me see this, let me see this face." Derek says in a baby voice to Zola as she stops crying.

"We've had her at the orphanage since she was 2 months old. This is the first time she's stopped crying since I can remember." Makena says.

"Let's just run an MRI and check to see if she has a Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus. If it's positive we're gonna have to do a shunt to drain the fluid. It's gonna postpone the spinal surgery, but I think it's gonna be worth it." Derek smiles at the giggling baby.

"I think she likes you." I smile at Derek as he hands the baby back to Makena. We send Zola up for her MRI and I go to the lab where Jackson is at watching mice for the chiefs research trial. I grab a couple of plums from the cafeteria on the way there, so I can use them to practice making incisions since it's been a while since I've operated on a spine. I take a seat at the desk as Jackson complains about the fact that he's taking care of mice instead of operating.

"I mean you'd think being on the Chief's research project would help in the race for chief resident, you might even think it'd make me a contender. Only I'm not saving little kids or people with Alzheimer's, I'm cleaning up mouse poop." Jackson says.

"Can you hand me that basin?" I ask.

"Wanna hear my conversation with the chief every morning? Avery how are the mice. They're fine chief, they're running on their wheel, eating their cheese. If I worked at a pet store I'd be employee of the month by now, but I'm a surgeon babysitting a bunch of mice." He says handing me the basin.

"Until you get FDA approval. I'm sure you're gonna be working on humans any day now. Now grab me another plum."

"Why are you peeling these things apart anyway?" Jackson asks grabbing a plum.

"I'm practicing. I've only been operating on the brain lately. I haven't did a spinal operation in months, but I get to assist on a surgery for a baby with spina bifida today." I explain making Jackson jealous, so he takes the plum and starts eating it.

"Hey, don't eat my spine. Oh gross." I laugh as juice from the plum drips on my hand after I snatch it away.

"You know I really don't like you." I laugh.

"Yeah, but you love me." Jackson smiles.

"That I do." I smile as he kisses me.

I finish practicing on the plums before leaving to retrieve the MRI results and meeting Derek.

"So Zola doesn't have a Chiari malformation, but she does have hydrocephalus." I tell Derek.

"OK let's book an OR for the shunt right away."

"OK, got it." I say walking away to go book the OR. A little while later it's time to scrub in and begin the operation.

"The trick is to go in very slowly until you feel a little give and then you should see some fluid." Derek directs me as a I operate.

"Got it." I say seeing the fluid.

"Very impressive, but you have learned from the best." Derek says making me laugh as I operate.

"Don't flatter yourself." I reply making him laugh.

"So how is the Alzheimer's trial going?" I ask.

"Great, I have another wave of patients coming in soon. How are things with you and Avery?" He asks.

"Really good. For the first time in awhile I feel like everything's going great. Jackson and I are all settled into our house, I'm doing a surgery with my best friend again, and I'm logging more OR hours than any other resident. The only thing I'm missing is the chief resident position." I say.

"You don't want to be chief resident believe me?" Derek says.

"Says the guy whose been chief resident and chief of surgery." I reply.

"That's how I know. Chief resident is a whole bunch of extra paperwork. Instead of focusing on surgeries you'll be focusing on schedules and charting."

"I know, but isn't it worth it to be considered the best. To know your boss chose you over all of your peers to lead." I say,

"Being chief resident doesn't make you the best, changing and saving lives like you're doing right now is what makes you the best. You're a great surgeon, the best I've ever mentored. Don't let the race for chief resident make you forget that." He says. I smile and nod my head in acknowledgement. We finish surgery then I head home to get some rest, Jackson stays at the hospital to work on the chief's research project.

I was off today and I didn't mind since it would give me time to catch up on some sleep before going to Callie and Arizona's wedding later today. After hours of sleeping I finally got up and started doing my hair and makeup before my phone started ringing interrupting me.

"Hello," I answer.

"Hey, it's Derek." Derek says over the phone,

"I know, I have caller ID." I say making him laugh.

"I do know that. Are you busy?" He asks.

"I'm getting ready for Callie and Arizona's wedding, but if u need me for a surgery I can come in."

"Or how would you like to come down to the courthouse and be a witness for Meredith and I." Derek says.

"Wait you and Mer are getting married, officially? When did you two make that decision?" I smile.

"I'll explain later, but are you going to be our witness?" He asks making me realize I hadn't answered.

"Of course, I'll be there in 15 minutes. I'm so happy for you two. " I say excitedly making Derek laugh before we hang up,

I rush to finish my makeup and hair and I text Jackson to let him know I'm not going to make the ceremony, so I'll meet him at the reception. I rush to my car then I arrive to the court house where Meredith and Derek are and we go to the back a couple of minutes later where Derek and Meredith get officially married

"I'm so happy for you guys, but is anyone gonna explain what made you two decide to finally get legally married?" I ask.

"Zola." They say.

"Our patient." I ask Derek confused.

"Yes, we made a important decision involving Zola." Derek says.

"And you need to promise not to tell anyone because it's not official yet." Meredith says.

"Okay, I promise" I nod.

"We're planning to adopt Zola." Derek says,

"Congratulations." I say hugging them both. I knew how much they both wanted kids and they would be amazing parents. I was happy for them.

"It's not official yet." Meredith says.

"But it will be." I assure them.

"See that's what I like to hear, think like that." Derek tells Meredith making me laugh. Afterwards we say goodbye and I leave to meet Jackson at the reception.

"Hey you." I say wrapping my arms around Jackson.

"Hey, where were you?" He asks kissing me.

"Derek needed me, I'll explain later." I tell him.

"Okay, well guess who might be a chief resident contender." He smirks.

"Could it be my unbelievably handsome boyfriend?" I smile making him laugh.

"Yes, the chief's trial took a turn for the best, because of yours truly and mouse J."

"Well cheers to you and mouse J." I say toasting Jackson. Until the end of time by Justin Timberlake comes on which is one my favorite songs.

"May I have this dance." Jackson asks.

"Do you even have to ask?" I smile before Jackson leads me to the dance floor where we dance the night away, by the time the reception ends Jackson and I are both exhausted and happy to get home to our bed.

"Baby." Jackson says as I lay on his chest,

"Yes, Avery."

"You want to get married one day, don't you?"

"Yea, of course, do you?" I ask,

"Of course." He says.

"I don't want a big wedding when that time comes though, maybe we could just elope." I shrug.

"No way, when we get married I want all of our family and friends to be there."

"Well we're not even engaged yet so we have plenty of time to discuss it, now go to sleep Avery." I say before kissing him then snuggling up to him as I drift asleep.