Not a month later, and their plane was touching down in New York. Meredith had more than one reason to be nervous. First of all, it was the first time she had been on a plane with Zola, and Zola hadn't been on a plane since she had come over from Malawi. Thankfully, that had all gone down very well and Zola slept in Meredith's lap most of the flight. Now Meredith could focus on the second source of her nerves, Derek's family. As she thought about it, her grip tightened a little on Zola's sleeping form against her as she carried her through the airport, as though she were her life support.

Derek, aware of Meredith's nerves, snaked an arm around her waist as they waited out the front of the airport for the rental car to be brought around. He pressed a kiss against the top of her head, murmuring so that she could hear, "They're going to love you, Meredith, simply because they know I love you."

She looked up at him with a small smile, her hand rubbing up and down Zola's back in gentle motions as she felt her starting to stir. Her lips pressed to the top of Zola's head as Derek stepped forward to take the keys for the rental car from the attendant, thanking him with a tip. Zola had definitely chosen one of the worst times to wake up from her nap, just as they were about to get in the car.

Meredith ducked into the back seat with her as Derek packed their bags into the trunk, and took his place in the driver's seat, "I'll sit with her, it'll be easier."

He turned to look at Meredith who sat with Zola held against her with her head buried in Meredith's shoulder, soft disgruntles coming from the small girl as she opposed the bright sunlight and unfamiliarity of New York City. He gave them a wide grin as he spoke, "Okay, we'll just be twenty minutes from here."

Meredith nodded as Derek turned back around to start driving the car. She sat back in the seat, continuously rubbing Zola's back as to comfort her the best she could with the unfamiliar surroundings. A few minutes later and Zola was looking up at her mother with bleary eyes, one hand reaching up to rub them as she mumbled, "Juice, Mama."

Meredith just now realised her mistake. Zola's juice cup would be tucked away in her carry-on bag which now resided in the trunk of the rental car. She'd been so pre-occupied with the nerves of meeting Derek's family; she'd completely forgotten Zola would need her juice cup. She spoke in a soft voice as she held Zola a little closer, "I'm sorry baby, soon, okay?"

She felt the small rumble in Zola's chest before hearing the small sobs escaping her lips. This was one of those times that made her feel like a horrible mother. Derek glanced to the both of them in the rear-view mirror with a small frown, "Is she okay?"

At this point, Zola's face was buried against Meredith's chest, whose arms were wrapped tight around her, with one hand against her back as she rocked her gently in an attempt to console her barely awake daughter. She met Derek's eyes a second, a frown on her own face as well, "Juice cup. It's in the trunk."

"We're just ten minutes out now, I'll grab it as soon as we stop," his eyes surveyed the road he was driving on and he muttered, Meredith only just about to hear him, "There's nowhere I can stop here."

"It's okay, just focus on driving, Derek," she told him and turned her full attention to Zola, who was still releasing small, tired sobs against her chest. She pressed soft kisses against Zola's head as she continued to comfort her, but to no avail. "Come on, Zo, we're almost there and I bet Nana has lots of juice just waiting for you," her fingers gently wiped at the tears on Zola's cheeks, but Zola wasn't listening to her, seemingly too wound up and apparently in a terrible mood after her long sleep on the plane. Apparently the longer her nap, the worse her mood would be when she woke.

With Zola still huddled against Meredith's chest, the car pulled into a driveway, but Meredith was too pre-occupied with comforting her daughter to take notice of her surroundings just yet. Next thing she knew, Derek had opened the car door beside her and was handing her Zola's sippy cup, which she quickly passed to Zola. At the sight of it, Zola gripped it with both hands and immediately started drinking the contents, immediately soothing herself.

Derek stepped back with a soft grin as Meredith stepped out of the car with Zola in her arms, still unaware of the elderly lady stood at the front porch watching the small family in front of her. Satisfied that Zola's mood had settled for now, Meredith turned, "Do you need help with the bags?"

Derek simply shook his head, "I'll get them in a minute, come on let's go inside," his hand rested at the small of her back as they turned to the front door. Derek grinned at his mother and went ahead of Meredith to greet her, having not seen her for almost six months now. As Meredith followed behind Derek, knowing how much this means to him, and well she couldn't back out of it now, could she?

She felt Zola shy away against her shoulder as she also took in their surroundings. Derek's Mom stood on a pristine white porch, with a large oak door stood open behind her that led into the house. Meredith met the older woman's kind eyes and she returned the warm smile that was offered as she stood beside Derek, who proudly slid his arm around her again, "Mom, I'd like you to meet Meredith and Zola."

At the sound of her name being spoken by Derek, Zola's head peaked up to look at him as Meredith spoke to his mother, "It's lovely to meet you, Mrs Shepherd."

"Please, call me Carolyn," Carolyn responded with a warm smile still on her lips, her eyes looking over Zola. Meredith's attention was also taken by a small whine from Zola as she reached for Derek. Meredith took the now empty cup from her daughter before passing her over to Derek.

She watched as they interacted with one another, the sight of them never failing to put a wide grin on her face. Derek held Zola on his hip, "This is my Mommy, Zola. She's your Nanna."

Meredith watched, nervously biting her lower lip as she anticipated Zola's reaction, knowing how she could be around strangers. Zola looked at Carolyn and then back at Derek, who simply gave her an encouraging smile. Zola looked back at Carloyn a second before snuggling against Derek. Meredith looked to Carolyn, with an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, she just woke as we left the airport…"

Carolyn simply shook her head, keeping the smile on her face, "Don't worry, this must all be very overwhelming for her, let's not stand out here all day, let's go inside."

"Where's everyone else, Ma?" Derek asked as he walked into the house behind his mother, keeping a close hold on Zola as Meredith followed behind them into the lounge. Meredith took a seat beside Derek on the two-seater sofa.

"They're coming later on for dinner, I didn't want to overwhelm Zola with all these new people at once," she gave a warm smile as she watched Zola and Derek sat together, an obvious sense of pride radiating from her, "Can I get anyone a drink?"

Zola perked up again, looking to Meredith who still held the sippy cup. Meredith stood up again, cup in hand, "I may have promised Zola some more juice," she grinned softly at her daughter who gave her a cheeky smile, and she leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head, and Derek took this opportunity to press a kiss to her cheek, causing her to blush.

"I can do it, Mer," he offered as she stood up straight.

Meredith simply shook her head, "It's okay, I got it."

"Okay, I'll just take a coffee, Mom," he looked to Carolyn who simply nodded and led Meredith into the kitchen.

"Derek told me blackcurrant was her favourite?" She said with a grin as she got down a bottle of blackcurrant cordial from a high cupboard and set it down on the counter for her.

"Yeah, it is, thank you," Meredith said as she headed over to the sink to rinse out the small plastic cup.

Carolyn worked on changing the filter in the coffee machine as she started up conversation with Meredith, "How's the adoption coming along?"

Meredith spoke as she put together the cup of juice for Zola, "It's been held up a little with getting Derek's name added to it, but there doesn't seem to be anything else. Just a long process."

Carolyn nodded with a sympathetic smile, "I'm sure it will all work out in your favour."

They were interrupted by Zola toddling into the kitchen, looking for Meredith with Derek close on her heels, "Mama!"

Meredith laughed softly and reached down to pick Zola up into her arms, "Are we wide awake now, Zo Zo?"

Zola nodded with a grin and a giggle, "Frozen, Mama, Daddy said Frozen?"

Meredith looked to Derek as she passed Zola her sippy cup again, who took it happily as she looked between her parents. Derek walked over to stand beside his mother, shrugging, "I may have said we could watch it soon."

Carolyn chuckled softly, "I love that movie, Zola, shall we go and put it on?"

Zola looked in a slight shock at Carolyn, before she looked up at Meredith, "Mama?"

Meredith nodded, "Go on, Zo. It's okay, go with Nanna," she set the girl down on her feet, Zola still looking a little uncertain, "We'll be right in, Zo, go on."

All eyes were on Zola now, and after a short second of deliberation she held her hand out to Carolyn, who took it and went with her into the lounge again. Meredith laughed softly as she walked over to Derek, who slid his arms around her waist and pulled her a little closer. He pressed his lips against her forehead with a soft murmur, "See, it's not so bad."

"I like your mother, it's your sisters I'm worried about," she looked up at him through her eyelashes and he laughed softly, planting a soft kiss on her lips.

"Well don't worry, okay? Do you want coffee?" He pulled away to grab three mugs from one of the cupboards as she nodded in agreement, and he poured a mug for them each, including one for his mother. Meredith picked up her mug and blew on it a little before taking a sip. Derek picked up the other two mugs, "Let's go see how they're holding up, yeah?"

They walked together into the lounge, where Zola was sat beside Carolyn on the couch facing the TV where Frozen had begun to play. Zola was entranced by the bright animation in front of her, a tight grip on her sippy cup. Derek set a mug of coffee on table in front of her before going to sit in the armchair, motioning for Meredith to go sit beside Zola.

As she sat down, Zola crawled into Meredith's lap, still keeping her eyes on the film in front of her as Derek and Carolyn spoke with one another, catching up on what Derek had missed in the past six months. With her arm protectively around Zola, as more a comfort to her than anything else, Meredith was definitely feeling much more at ease than she had when they'd first arrived. Maybe this visit wouldn't be so bad after all.