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For many Grey’s Anatomy fans, one of the most devastating moments of the series was when Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) died. Fans were heartbroken watching Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) climb in the hospital bed with McDreamy. Watching their two children — now fatherless —, Zola and Bailey, sit with a social worker outside the room made the tears fall even faster.

Now, fans are pointing out a scene with Zola several seasons later that made them cry over Derek all over again.

Ellen Pompeo with Aniela Gumbs and Brody Goodstadt
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ stars Ellen Pompeo, Aniela Gumbs and Brody Goodstadt | Michael Desmond/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

When were each of Meredith and Derek’s children born on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

For fans who haven’t watched the show since the beginning, they often wonder when she had each of her three children. She only had Zola and Bailey with her when Derek died, so when was the third child born?

Zola was a six-month-old orphan who appeared as part of a group of patients traveling from Africa in season 7. Derek fell in love with her when he was treating her for Spina Bifida. Eventually, Meredith and Derek adopted her in season 8. 

Then, after a miscarriage, the couple had their first son, Derek Bailey Shepherd. In season 9, she gave birth during a storm without any power. Meredith had massive bleeding, and the baby ended up in the NICU. However, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) saved Meredith’s life.

Their third child, Ellis, was born after Derek died. Meredith took her children and left after the tragic death of her husband. She went into labor when she was alone, and Zola called 9-1-1. Although she never met her father, Meredith still tries to keep his memory alive for all three children. 

Zola caused fans to cry again in season 14

In a recent discussion, fans brought up a scene during Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 that made them cry again over Derek’s death. Zola is talking to Meredith’s half-sister, Maggie Pierce, about anatomy in a charming scene that makes fans ugly cry.

“Now show me the inferior vena cava and the aorta,” Maggie tells Zola, who quickly points it out. “Wow. You are a natural. You must get it from your mom.”

Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo and Aniela Gumbs
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ stars Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, Aniela Gumbs | Ron Tom/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
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Zola’s response is when the tears start to fall.

“My daddy, too,” Zola replies. “I’m gonna be a brain surgeon like him.”

Then the little girl talks about how much she misses her father. Zola asks Maggie if she misses her mom, to which she replies she does every day. Zola consoles Maggie by telling her that Maggie’s mom is always with her even though she’s not there.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ fans point out how much the scene with Zola hurts 

“It always kills me when Zola talks about Derek,” one fan wrote on Reddit.

Other fans agree that the scene always makes them cry.

“He loved her SO much and was so proud to be her father,” another fan adds. “I loved when Derek was trying to talk Meredith into accepting Maggie as a sister by saying ‘Also, Zola needs more black people in the family. I’m running out of ways to braid her hair and Bailey won’t teach me anymore.'”

Then fans point out how much they want to see a flash-forward into Zola’s life as a brain surgeon.

“Zola and Derek were so sweet,” another Redditor wrote. “I really hope we get a ‘future’ episode where we see Zola as a surgeon and saying ‘It’s a beautiful day to save lives.'”

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