Allison Riley-Bradford

Thirty-six years old. Mother to Daniella, Lilia, Michael, and Logan; wife to Evan; double board certified OBGYN and neonatal/ fetal surgeon at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital...I save babies for a living, what are you doing with your life? **RP account not affiliated with Troian Bellisario or Grey's Anatomy. All photos and GIFs belong to their rightful owners**

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

Clarity || Ellison [flashback]

Evan cannot take his eyes off his wife and daughter. The sight was everything he had dreamed of seeing the past weeks, even months. A dream. It was literally a dream shaping up before his very eyes. Evelyn was so perfect. She looked so much like Lilia as a baby. Allison’s voice as she says her name, Evie… It sounded just like in his dreams. He could hardly believe they made it. All these months of being worried sick that this moment might never happen, it was all behind them now. It was happening. Allie was holding their daughter, she was ok, she was alive. Minus a kidney, but she was alive. They were both alive and healthy and that was all that mattered. That was all Evan cared about. He bends over and reaches out to wrap his arm around Allie, his hand resting behind her neck, his other hand gently reaching down to rub Evie’s hand. Evan smiles, watching Allie kissing their daughter’s head. “She’s been waiting to meet her mommy,” he mutters, and he leans in and presses a kiss to Allie’s head, leaning back with tears streaming down his face yet a smile glue to his face as he looks down to Evie again. “She’s so perfect,” he mutters with pride.

“God, I feel like I’ve been waiting so long to meet her, but it’s the shortest pregnancy I’ve had,” Allie laughs, gently rocking her with tears in her eyes. “She is,” She agrees. “So perfect. Look what we made,” She says, looking up at Evan with a smile, reaching for a kiss. She feels so much lighter knowing that they were on the other side of this, now. There was a light at the end of the hospital tunnel, and the biggest goal, getting Evelyn here healthy, had been accomplished. She’d kept her baby safe. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

Back in Black || Allie Self Para

She stands in the mirror, staring at herself. It feels like de ja vu, standing there in black dress and heels, after running around getting the kids all dressed. To go to a funeral. Their uncles’ funeral. The twins had been just babies, when Robert had died. Now, they were four, but Evelyn was a baby. Evelyn, who had never gotten to meet Clay or Chris. 

They’d given it a month. It had been Lena’s thought first, she had brought it up as they, Amelia, and her had sat in the funeral home trying to figure out what to do. What if they waited? What if they were wrong? Shouldn’t they give them some time, time to look? She had gotten on the phone and argued with Australia, at one point screaming at someone in Gaelic, and had gotten search teams that she threw money at. When they’d offered to help, she’d declined. Allie had proposed they give it one month. It wasn’t fair to the kids, was her argument. The kids who loved them, but especially Elena, and mostly Bentley, who was all too aware of what was going on. It wasn’t fair to them to put no end date on it. And so they’d all agreed on a month. 

Here they were, getting ready for a funeral, so obviously it hadn’t been successful. The worse part was they didn’t even have anything to bury. Two lives had ended like this. She missed him every minute, knowing he wasn’t out there. That the texts she kept sending were going to no one, that she’d never get an answer. She wasn’t ok, but she had to be for her family.

She’s not sure where Evan is right now, she never really was lately. He had begun hiding to himself a lot. He’d been getting dressed, but then he’d slipped out of the room. Hopefully he’d be downstairs getting shoes on the twins. 

“Mommy?” Allie glanced to the side in her mirror, Lilia is standing at the door with a bow in her hand. “I want to wear this.” She says, holding it up. It’s rainbow and sparkly, not very appropriate for a traditional funeral. “Uncle Clay got it for me.” She says. 

“Of course, baby. Come here,” Allie says, and Lilia comes over. She takes the bow from her and puts it in her hair, clipping it to the top of her pony tail. “There,” she smiles, gently cupping her face and kneeling down to her height. “It’s perfect.He’d love it.” She says with a small smile, kissing her cheek. 

“Why do people have to die, mommy?” Lilia asks with a sigh, eyes welling up. Allie sighs, wrapping her arms around her and standing up, lifting her with her. She sits on the edge of the bed, holding Lilia tight. “I don’t know, baby,” She sighs softly. “I don’t know.” 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

Today, we celebrate the lives of two amazing men. Two fathers, brothers, partners, friends, doctors that the world lost way too soon. Today, we have to let go of the hope we’ve been holding onto for the past month and let them rest in peace. Today, I’ll hold the ones I love a little tighter, because you really never know when everything will be taken away. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

Allison’s words hit him like a ton of brick and it takes everything for Evan to keep up the wall high up and hold it together. He clenches his jaw and swallows thickly, not moving from his position, staring out the window with his hands in his pockets, keeping on a straight face, almost smiling as though he was not even living this moment. As though this was not happening, as though he was just thinking back on moments he had gone through with his best friend who was somewhere out there in the world, about to come home like he was supposed to. Because stopping to think about it, Clay could not have died. It was impossible, he could not be dead, he just could not. But Allie was right. He always had to be the first at everything. Screw you, Clay, Evan thought with a slight shake of head, remaining quiet though, still in place. 

Allie looks down at Evelyn, the tears rolling down her face. “I can’t believe he’ll never walk through that door again...” She whispers. “He never...he never got to meet Evie...” Allie says softly. “What do we tell the kids? How...how do we tell the kids, Evan?” 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

Evan. He hears his name, but he feels so lost in the fog. He knows that he is standing in Evie’s room, knows that he is physically grounded and awake, but he feels completely elsewhere. It almost feels like his surrounding is not tangible. Like he cannot grasp at anything. Everything feels completely off, like he cannot recognize the place he finds himself in, even though he knows exactly where he is and everything around him. 

He hears it. The broken in his wife’s voice. He knows she is hurting. He knows just how close she had grown with Clay over the years, even closer than Clay and him had ever been. He knows this is unfathomable to her. But he just can’t. He feels her hurting, but he is too lost in the fog to do anything about it. And even then, it feels like everything he touches, everyone he encounters, they all just end up hurt or dead. Please just come here, he hears her beg. But he cannot move. Come over here, come to me. Come here. He hears her, he feels her hand reaching out, but he just cannot move. His hands will not come out of his pockets, his body will not turn, he just stands still facing the window, unable to do anything, or say anything. 

And then. “He’d say I’d die first,” the words spill out. A silence then follows for a moment. His head up, he is staring out the window, but not looking at anything in particular. He can still see his face, so vividly. His mocking face… his memorable face. “Karma for being such a jerk for so long… he’d always say I’d die first,” the words spill from his lips in such a light mutter, almost a whisper. And then a chuckle escapes him as he thinks about it, as he still hears his mocking voice in his head. He shakes his head before it bends down, a smile on his face before he looks up through the window again. “Such a smartass,” he mutters, his head still shaking, the smile quickly fading… the pain hitting. But he blocks it, growing silent again, his hands clenched into fists in his pockets.

Allie frowns when Evan mutters that he said he would die first. She knows he means that Clay had said that to him. She looks down at Evelyn as Evan goes on, tears welling in her eyes. “He was such a competitor though, He always had to be first at everything.” She whispers, voice cracking. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

Clarity || Ellison & MerDer

It was not quite sinking in just yet, what Allie had gone through. Her joking seemed crazy to him, she had just lost a kidney. But it also sounded a lot like her, trying to lighten up the atmosphere. And when she mentioned about Evelyn, all he wanted was to present their daughter to her, he just wanted to see their daughter in her arms. Derek’s voice cuts through the silence at the perfect moment, and seeing the cradle being rolled in puts a smile on Evan’s face instantly as he stands up from his seat. He lets go of Allie’s hand to go over to the cradle, smiling brightly as he leans eyes on the baby. “Hi sweet girl…” he mutters, before reaching in to pick her up, saying, “Come meet your mommy…” Gently picking her up in his arms, he carries her over to Allison very slowly, glancing between her and Allie as he gets to her bed, smiling down at his wife, tears pricking his eyes. He lets out a light chuckle of joy before he gently rests her down in Allie’s arms.

Allie doesn’t take her eyes off of the bassinet the moment Derek enters the room. She watches as he moves it into place, and her eyes follow as Evan picks her up and brings her over. “Hi,” She whispers, voice hoarse. “Hi there, Evelyn...hi, Evie,” She says, tears spilling over. “I’ve been waiting to meet you, little one,” She coos, leaning to kiss her head. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

Allison pulling away from her grip, Meredith hesitates, getting up with her, holding her arms until she walks herself over to Derek and seems to stand find on her own. She swallows thickly, feeling a heavy weight in her stomach to see Allison close her emotions off like that. She knows it is only a matter of time until she explodes, but she also knows that she has to take care of her kids and especially Evelyn who she had to feed and all that. But to watch her go through this seems so unfair and she wishes there was something she could do to help, to really help. But she knew nothing really could. Except to be there and try, as much as she could. 

Allison heads for the stairs and Meredith hesitates to follow, but she knows that Allie will hold it for Evelyn, if she has her, and she knows that her place right now is with the kids, to try and preserve them from the news for a little while longer, until Allie is able to sit with them and tell them herself. She knows she will want to tell her herself, especially Ella and Lilia. Turning to Derek, Meredith nods. “Go see your sister,” she mutters, reaching a hand to squeeze his, knowing this had to be so awful for him to have to do this. But knowing he knows he should be the one to. “I’ll stay here with the kids, call me later?” She asks, then leans in to kiss him before squeezing his hand again and then letting go, telling him to be safe before heading down to get to the kids. 

Meanwhile, Evan has not moved. He is still standing in the very same position, staring out the window, completely numb. He does hear someone coming in, hearing also baby noises, so he picks up Allie just came in with Evelyn, but he does not move. Hands thrown in his front pockets, he just stands there, silent. What do we do? Allison’s questions resounds to his ears, but in such a blur, and Evan just remains quiet, not answering, not moving, not doing anything. He just stands there, completely quiet, completely numb.

Derek watches Allie take the baby and then slowly proceed up the stairs. Meredith reaches out, telling him to go see his sister, and he holds on tight to her hand. He doesn’t know how to tell Amelia, but knows he has to, and so he nods. He kisses her back, and wraps his arms around her for a moment. It’s too brief, and there’s no time, but he has to do it before he heads out to the car. 

Upstairs, Allie looks at Evan, feeling as though she’s about to break down. This doesn’t make sense, she can’t comprehend what the hell happened, how he can be gone. “Evan.” She says, voice cracking. “Evan, please, please...please just come here,” Allie says, begging. She makes sure Evelyn is set and then reaches her hand out. “Come over here, come to me. Come here,” She says forcefully. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

It might not be that it was impossible to put the pieces of the vase back together again, but suddenly Evan felt he had no strength left to do it. As numb as he was, he knew the underlying amount of pain and ache that was there, hidden under the numbness, and he did not have the strength or capacity to face it. He had to hold onto the numbness. If he wanted to be able to keep going, day after day, he had to hang onto the numbness. 

Meanwhile, Meredith is holding Allison in her arms, brokenhearted to see her sister putting up with all this pain. She had spent months in a bed, dealing with the pain of being away from her home and her kids, of not living her life, or being stuck in a room away from it all, and now, now that she had gone through these ugly odds and had made it home, she was robbed of a huge piece of her family and this was just horrible. She did not deserve this at all, none of them did, Clay and Chris the first ones, they were such great people, it was horrible. Thinking of Amelia going through this, with Elena, and her treatments, it was just horrible. Meredith wished there was something she could do that could help, to fix this, anything, but there was nothing she could do. So she just sits there and holds Allison in her arms, as tightly as she could without hurting her, just holding her. 

When Derek asks about Amelia, Meredith feels her heart drop in her chest and she looks to Bailey, hoping she had not. Because that meant she was going through this alone, and her coping mechanisms had not always been the best. Derek had to go find her. Meredith looks to him, about to say it when Bailey tells them she has not told her. Her heart drops even more, knowing Derek will take the responsibility of that, and she could not even imagine him having to do that. But if anyone had to do it, it should be him. She knew Amelia would want it to be him. Still, the idea of him doing it sounded like it was too much. “Derek…” she mutters, but before she can finish, Allison cuts her off, asking about Bentley and Brighton. 

While Allison breaks again in her arms, Meredith bites her lip and holds it tight, holds her tight too, looking up to Bailey and nodding her head. “Thank you,” she mutters, even though it feels wrong to thank her, she knew it had to be awful for her to come down here and deliver such news. She swallows thickly, Bailey shaking her head in discouragement and disbelief, Meredith staring back into her eyes, trying to at least let her know she supported her through this. “I need to head back to the hospital,” she says. “Again I am so sorry, if there is anything I can do, let me know, really…” She trails off and Meredith nods in response for everybody.

When Allison asks about Evan, Meredith frowns and looks around. She had no idea where Evan had gone off to. She looks to Derek and frowns at him, as though asking if he had seen him go somewhere. “Evan?” She calls out.

Upstairs, Evan hears his name called out but it sounds like a big blur. He realizes, taking notice of where he is standing that he has ended up in Evelyn’s nursery that Allison’s parents had put together while he was too busy with work or the kids or when he was at the hospital in Allie’s room. He had been too busy with everything, so busy that he could not even recall the last time he had spoken to Clay or Chris. He did not remember what the last things they had talked about were. Could not even remember if he had told them both how much he cared about them. He could still see Clay standing in his kitchen, tickling Lilia until she ran off his grip, making the boys laugh, planning sneaky plans with Ella behind his back. Just drinking a beer and talking about life together. They would never get to do that again. He had been too busy with other things instead of focusing on the important ones; family and friends. 

Allie zones out as Bailey says she needs to get back, telling them to let her know if there’s anything that she can do. She hated that, people saying that when someone died. Could they bring him back? Could they turn back time? She feels so numb, and knows that she’s doing it to herself. She’s numbing herself, because if she let herself feel the pain that she knows is there, really feel it...she knows it would be bad. She can’t fathom a world without Clay. She can’t comprehend what it means for him to be gone. But she knows it’s pain. She knows she’ll never hear him call her Allie Pal again, never see the way Lilia’s face lights up when she sees him, never get to scrub in together again. They’d never laugh together again. 

Evelyn starts to scream and it jolts Derek, who had been stuck thinking about Amelia. He rocks her, but Allie is standing up, stepping away from Meredith towards him to take the baby. “Are you sure?” He asks, afraid she may give out again, but she nods. “Yea.” She says, emotionless, taking Evelyn. “I have to feed her,” She mutters, and turns, because she needs a moment, and knows that Meredith will have the kids. She goes slowly up the stairs, into Evelyn’s nursery. Her parents had set it up, and it was great. There’s a glider in there that calms Evie down. Evan is in there, but she doesn’t say anything, she sits down and gets the baby situated nursing. “What do we do?” She whispers softly, looking up at him. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

The whole world stops. 

Meredith stands still, staring at Bailey a moment, unable to believe it. She right away looks over to Derke, thinking about Amelia, her heart crushed. Elena, so young, losing her dad. And Bentley, losing his, too. Brighton would be crushed at the news, too. And Lena, oh Lena had to be broken, too. What a nightmare. But Allie. Meredith then right away looks to Allison, knowing this would hit her too hard. Way too hard. Clay was like her brother, he was her best friend, he meant everything to her, they were so close, this was too much. She wanted to already take all the pain away from her. From them. Evan, he was standing there so shocked and frozen into place, Clay was his brother, they had been friends forever, this obviously hit him way too hard, too. After all they had just been through, they should not go through this, too. This was not fair, none of it.

Evan cannot move. He is hard like rock, stuck into place, staring off across the room at nothing in particular, just out of it all. To the point where he was unable to even be aware of his surroundings, of anyone in the room, of anything going on besides the numbness. 

Meredith sees Allison gasping for air and then going for a fall, and right away she throws herself at her, catching her right in time, wrapping her arms around her and holding her in her arms, sinking to the floor on her knees with her. And she just holds her, tighter, receiving all her pain and feeling it so badly. This was horrible and unimaginable. 

Evan still stands in place, not moving. Like disconnected. It feels to him as though there is nobody else in the house, nothing else around him. He is just numb. It feels like he has been picking up the pieces of a broken vase one by one, putting them back together with the best and most solid glue he could find, and managed to put it all back together and make it hold… until a heavy wind blew on it and it exploded into a billion more pieces, and it was just impossible to put it back together again. Just like that, Evan unfreezes and just starts walking out of the room. Completely numb, completely disconnected. He just walks out, goes for the stairs and walks upstairs, with no particular idea of what he was doing or where he was going. He was just going. 

She’s going to fall, but Meredith catches her, bringing her to the ground. Clay was gone. Her brother, her best friend, her platonic soulmate, her person...he was gone, in the blink of an eye. Just forty eight hours ago he had told her he’d see her soon, and now she would never be able to speak to him again. She can’t stop shaking, and yet she feels so numb. And then the tears come, rolling down her face, she’s crying. “I can’t,” She chokes to Meredith, shaking her head. “I-I can’t, this can’t...no,” She says. 

Derek watches Allie wilt, glad that Meredith is quick enough to catch her. He’s rooted to his spot, watching as Evan just leaves the room, goes upstairs. “Amelia.” Derek says, eyes on Bailey. “Have you told her yet?” He asks, swallowing thickly. 

“No, I came here first,” Bailey says, and Derek is relieved to know that his sister isn’t somewhere dealing with this alone. “I’ll tell her.” He says before he even realizes he’s saying it. “I’ll do it,” He says again, because like always he wants to protect her, even though he knows he can’t. 

“Bentley, who’s going to tell Bentley? And Brighton?” Allie cries. “Are you sure? Are they sure, Bailey, this isn’t...this can’t...no!” She shouts. 

“They’re sure, Allison. I’m so sorry. I..I will tell Brighton,” Bailey says. 

“And Lena? They were together, Clay was with Lena,” Allie cries. 

“I will tell her, too,” Bailey adds. 

“Where’s Evan?” Allie asks, realizing that he’s gone, he hasn’t said a word. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

askbiggrey-xx​:

Clarity || Ellison & MerDer

Evan could feel the relief in his bones. He could not remember ever being this scared. Of losing the one person he could never imagine living without. The one person that meant everything, along with their kids, to him. There could be no life without her. He had to die first. He had to go first, he could not live without her. So he held onto her hand as tightly as he could, feeling like he could breathe again. She was alive, breathing, she was awake and responsive. All the ugly odds that had been against them for what felt like forever, they could be behind them now. He hoped they were. When Allison asks about Evelyn, Evan’s reassures her right away. “She’s great,” he tells her with a smile. “She’s perfect, she’s the spitting image of Lilia, her sats are great, she’s perfect,” he reassures her.

He’s not surprised that the first thing Allie asks for is Evelyn. “I’ll go get her,” He volunteers. “I’ll go get her while they fill you in, and I’ll be right back with her,” Derek says, heading for the door, squeezing Meredith’s shoulder lightly as he goes by. 

Meredith turns around as Derek offers to get the baby, then she turns to Allison and swallows back the lump in her throat, instead pushing on a smile. Seeing her daughter would definitely make it all better, she knew. Derek’s next words sort of leave Meredith frozen into place a moment… while they fill you in. She felt the heaviness on her shoulders now, knowing the news she had to deliver. She felt sick to her stomach, but no matter the fact that she wished Allie got some space and time before being thrown the information at her face, time to reunite with Evan and their new baby girl before all this, she knew Allie deserved to know as quickly as possible. Meredith feels a squeeze of her shoulder and recognizes Derek’s gentle grip. She swallows and keeps the smile on, although it slightly vanishes as Derek heads out and what she has to do next weights on her all over again.

Swallowing thickly, Meredith looks down and finds herself some room on Allie’s bed, by her side. She shifts and sits down, not letting go of her sister’s hand, even giving it a squeeze. “So,” she begins, her smile gone now. “There’s been a complication during the procedure,” she starts off with, looking between Allison and Evan, but mostly at Allison. She gulps. “There was massive bleeding after your daughter was born, Allie I don’t know what you remember, but Woods asked for my help so I got in and tried to find the source of the bleeding,” she informed, swallowing a few times, trying so hard to get through this without letting the nausea get the best of her. “Woods had to take your daughter to the NICU for checkups, so I told her to go and I took over,” she states. She still felt the rush of standing in the OR, her brain trying to shut out the fact that Allie was lying on the table and she had her hands inside of her. “It took me a while but when I eventually found the source of the bleed, it was coming from your right kidney,” Meredith tells her, feeling a heavy weight in her stomach. She swallows thickly. “It was far too damaged for me to salvage it, so I had to take it out.” Meredith pauses. “Bailey came in halfway through and helped,” she adds with a nod of head, her eyes moving to Evan before they find Allison’s again, and she shakes her head and sighs. “I’m sorry Al,” she mutters, almost a whisper, her hand squeezing onto her sister’s tighter.

She’s relieved to hear that Evelyn is ok, that everything’s fine. She smiles when Evan said she looked like Lilia. “Thank you,” She murmurs to Derek, nodding. Her attention turns to Meredith, hand holding on to hers, and tightening the one around Evan’s. “It must have been the preeclampsia,” She says. “Good thing I only need one.” She squeezes Meredith’s hand until she looks at her, eyes locked. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault, it’s no ones,” Allie says. “What matters is that I’m fine, and most importantly, Evie is fine. All I want now is to see her.”

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

Evan feels his heart sinking in his chest, his body tightening up as he now stands, staring back at Bailey. He did not feel he could take any bad news. His life had been filled with them these past months, the past two weeks had been the most joy they had had in months and he finally felt like they were in a good place, but of course the other shoe had to drop. His whole body closes off, as though his armor was thrown on. He stands there, mouth shut, just waiting for it. Just say it, Bailey. 

Meredith looks between Bailey and Allison, feeling like she should get Allie to sit, but also wondering why Bailey was coming over to deliver bad news, and what kind of bad news. “Bailey, was is it?” She mutters after Allison asks it herself and the room goes silent. 

The moment the word Australia comes out, Evan’s body goes hard as a rock. He just knows. Clay and Chris. He knows. It’s bad, he thinks. Because had it been serious but not serious enough, Bailey could have called them to inform them. But the fact that she had driven all the way to their house to deliver the news in person, Evan knew. This moment, there was no going back from it. 

And Bailey goes ahead and calls them Clay’s next of kin and Evan feels sick to his stomach. The light is in his eyes had shut out, the whole room around them had somehow, too. It feels like he cannot hear anything, like everything around them is a blur. A distant echo, like he has shut out of the chaos that was just dropped on them. All Evan picks up through the echo are that the plane that his brothers were on crashed. And the last part. Clay and Chris Cormier have died.

She knows what’s coming, once she calls them Clay’s next of kin. She knows what’s coming, and yet nothing, no amount of time, would ever be enough to brace for the impact of what she’s about to say. She wants to tell her to stop, get out, go away, because she knows what’s coming, and knows she doesn’t want to hear it. Knows she can’t handle it. But as with life, she couldn’t stop it. 

Clay and Chris Cormier have died...Clay and Chris Cormier have died...Clay and Chris Cormier have died...died...died...died...

The words repeat over and over again in her head as though a recording is skipping, and each time it sinks in more. She knew it was coming, but it’s not enough to stop it from feeling like a punch straight to the chest. It takes her breath away, she can’t breathe. Clay is...dead? But she’d spoken to him forty eight hours ago. He was going to be coming home. She feels herself sway and she can’t do anything to stop it, she can’t steady herself, she can’t go sit down, she’s so numb and she starts to fall. 

Derek sees her, but knows he won’t get there in time, and he knows that, and he can’t move because in that moment, all he can think of is his sister. Chris is dead. Her fiancee is dead, the father of her child is dead. She’s in cancer treatment, and now this. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

Meredith gives Allison a nod of head as she heads to the kitchen, saying, “Got it.” While she is off in the kitchen, Evan sits with Derek and they coo over the little one. Evan was so in love with her, had forgotten how small they were at that age. And how crazy it felt that she had only been with them for the past two weeks but he could not imagine her not being a part of their family, of their lives. It did not feel complete without her. She was so sweet, so calm and peaceful. 

When Allie gets back, the bell rings and Evan frowns looking up. “Were we expecting someone?” He asks, confused. He hears Allie going for the door and Evelyn starts fussing in Derek’s arm which pulls his attention. Derek gets up and starts pacing around the living room, while Evan gets up and sees Allison coming in with a changed expression on her face. Something had changed in the vibe of their house and it caused him to frown, confused. Bailey appears behind her and it leaves Evan all the more confused. “Bailey?” He says, staring back at her. He looks between her and his wife, then back to Bailey. “What a nice surprise…?” He half states, half questions, his gut telling him this was not a happy visit and he wondered why, the look on Bailey’s face looking stressed and aggravated.

“Bailey?” Meredith frowns as she comes back into the living room with Allie’s and hers glasses in hands, bending to put them down on the low table before straightening up and staring back at their Chief with a question mark on her face, sensing something was off. “What’s going on?” She asks, feeling the elephant in the room.

“I’m afraid that I’m not here for a pleasant visit,” Bailey begins after they get to the living room, and she stands near the archway, feeling like it’s not a moment to go sit down even though she should. “I wish I was just here to snuggle that baby, but, that is not the case,” Bailey says. This is Bailey stressed 101, phrasing and rephrasing things in different ways. 

“What is it, Miranda?” Allison cuts in before she can go on, and Bailey catches her eyes. She sees the sadness in them, and tries to think of what the hell this could be about. 

What comes next is by the book of their empathy training. Be direct. Be sympathetic. Don’t cut corners. “They didn’t leave emergency contact information at the hospital in Australia, so they called me. Allison and Evan, you both are Clay’s next of kin and emergency contact on file with us and it was left to me to tell you that...that the plane that Clay and Chris were on to go to the island for their OI trial went down. It suffered catastrophic engine failure,” She says, and already, Allie knows what is coming next. Derek stops, and his hand covers Evelyn’s ears as though he can protect her from the words. “There were no survivors. I’m...so, so sorry,” Bailey says. “Clay and Chris Cormier have died.” 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

evanbradford​:

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

Having Allie home with them again had literally changed everything. The kids were happier, they were actually such a great help around the house, from cleaning their plates to cleaning their rooms, to Ella even folding laundry and Lilia had even taken on feeding Molly. They were all great help but definitely happy to have their mother home and willing to do everything to help her. 

Evan was beyond relieved that both Allison and Evelyn were fine. That they were both healthy and safe, and home. He had prayed for this so many times, while just waiting and expecting the worst because it always seemed to happen, he was just wired that way, but he knew Allie was a fighter, and clearly Evie had taken after Allie on that. Thank God they were home, and thank God they were safe.

“Way to kill a vibe,” Meredith chuckles, pulling a face, holding back a comment on how she preferred Allie off her OR table. Evan smiles at his wife. It was great to hear her laugh, it felt like he had not heard that in a very, very long time. Which often brought him back to a dark place, but he had been avoiding it. Every time he thought of it, he pulled back. His wife was great, their daughter was great, all of their kids were, things were fine, that was all that mattered, all he cared about. 

“No no no Derek Shepherd, you’ve had your turn, I’m next,” Meredith tells Derek, shooting him a look. Looking at Derek, Evan steps closer and reaches down to rub his daughter’s cheek. “She’s infectious, I know,” he comments, smiling down at his daughter. He looks up at Allie as she offers to get them something, shaking his head. "You focus on going to the bathroom and taking care of those incisions healing properly, I’ll handle the rest,” Meredith responds as she gets up from the couch, giving her a face with a raised eyebrow.

Allie shakes her head as Meredith argues about taking the baby after she eats, smiling. “Fine, doctor. I’ll take some lemonade from my own kitchen then, thank you,” She says with a grin, shuffling off to the bathroom. It takes a bit longer than it did before, but after she’s done peeing and washing her hands, she walks slowly back to the playroom to check on the kids. They don’t even notice her, engrossed in playing and watching Trolls World Tour. Smiling, Allie heads back towards the living room. The doorbell rings as she’s about to veer into the living room, but instead she goes to the door, opening it. “Bailey,” She says, surprised to see her there. She’d come to their house before on many occasions, but never unplanned. 

“Allison,” She says. “Hi. Um...can I come in?” She asks. 

“Of course,” Allie says, stepping back to let her in. “What brings you here? Miss me too much?” She jokes. Miranda had spent a lot of time in her room keeping her company. 

“Is Evan home?” Bailey asks in lieu of an answer, and Allie suddenly grows worried. 

“Yea...” She says. “Right in the living room. Come on in.” 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

Had to complete the series...the best silhouette photo of them all. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

All Fall Down || Ellison & MerDer

They were home, and everything she’d taken advantage of before, she appreciated it so much more now. Her shower, her bath tub (even though she couldn’t take one yet), her bed. Her dog, God she had missed Molly, her couch. She missed the sounds of her kids bickering, even. God, she’d missed it all, and having it back was amazing. 

“I told you to stop making me laugh,” Allie says through her laughter, holding the pillow to her abdomen. “It still makes me feel like my insides are going to fall out,” She says, managing to stop after Meredith had finished a hilarious story of one of her most recent patients. She gets up from the couch, taking a sip of water. “She’s going to have to eat soon,” Allie says to Derek, who had been holding Evelyn for the past hour. “Just a warning.” 

“Yea yea, that’s fine. I’ll just take her back afterwards,” Derek shrugs, grinning. “I’m going to the bathroom, anyone need anything on my way back?” She asks, shaking her head. All the older kids were back in the playroom, watching a movie and playing. 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

After 108 days in the hospital as a patient, I am finally going HOME! Evie has only spent 12 days here, but she’s equally excited to be breaking out. Thank you Auntie Mer for finally letting mommy out!

[sloanmdmark]

What a sweet little face.  Congratulations guys! 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

Thank you! 

[allisonrileybradford-md]

askbiggrey-xx​:

doctor-derekshepherd​:

Clarity || Ellison & MerDer

There is a movement, Evan feels it. Something in his hand, it catches his attention. His gaze drifts down from Derek to his hand, recalling as he looks that he was holding onto Allison’s hand so tight. But that movement was not from him. He had not moved. He had felt something move in his hand, like a squeeze. Weak, but still. Allison. His gaze instantly went up to lock on his wife’s face, seeing right away a small opening in her eyes that grew before him. Her eyes were opening up. She was waking up. He gasped. “Oh god, Allie, baby,” he let out, bending over and reaching his free hand to rest on his wife’s forehead, brushing her hair back as she slowly woke up. She was awake. She was ok. Thank God. “Baby, I’m right here, you’re ok, you’re up… oh god, hi…” He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it, tears streaming down his face as he could not help smiling. “I love you, god I love you so much,” he shook his head, unable to stop smiling. 

Derek’s pulled into action when Evan reacts, Allison has woken up. He moves forward, giving Evan his moment before he shines the light in her eyes again. Her pupils react as they should before she groans and shuts them. “Sorry, sorry, just checking,” Derek says, holding his hands up in defense. 

And just as if Meredith had made it happen, her eyes locked on Allison’s face, she sees it. She had just briefly looked up at her monitor before looking back down at her sister only to see movement. She blinks, wondering if she was imagining it, sure that she was. But right before her eyes, Allison opens her eyes. Meredith gasps, hearing Evan’s reaction and feeling beyond relieved. She brings her hands together in a praying manner and rests it against her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes that she could not fight back. She stands behind, at the end of Allie’s bed, and just takes a moment. Evan is kissing her hand, stroking her hair, Derek is flashing a light in her eyes, checking her pupils reaction, and all Meredith can do is stand back for a moment, taking this in. She gulps, countless times, feeling the lump moving up. Trying to keep her breathing steady. Trying to stand still and not flinch, her shaky legs about to just let her fall, but she pushes on her muscles and holds herself up. She gulps again and again, seeing as Derek stands back. She has to pull it together. Gathering the strength she manages to, Meredith walks around the bed and stands by Allison’s bedside across from Evan, glancing up at the monitors to check her vitals one more time before looking down at her, her hand reaching for her sister’s free hand. “Hey,” she mutters softly, smiling down at her, managing the front really well, having blinked back the tears and replaced them by a soft smile. “Morning,” she mutters. 

It’s overwhelming, everything at once. Evan’s kissing her head, and she’s glad that he doesn’t hate her, because she said things, bad things. Derek is shining a light in her eyes and she groans, and Derek sheepishly apologizes. Meredith is there, saying good morning, and she assumes it’s half a joke because she can’t have been out that long. “Evelyn,” She whispers, voice hoarse. “Where’s my baby? Is-is she ok?” Allie asks, demands.