Shrill sounds of giggling children woke Meredith one summer morning. She looked at her left and saw her youngest daughter, Jessica Ellis Shepherd, who had been born a few months earlier. Today was a Saturday so she figured Derek was making breakfast. With a stretch of her arms and legs Meredith turned on the baby monitor and crawled out of bed. The morning was beautiful and she took the time to notice it on the way downstairs. Six years ago the house had been built just the way she and Derek had agreed it to be.
Meredith made her way to the kitchen where she saw Derek making scrambled eggs and bacon. Heather and Ava were sitting on the counter stirring some pancake batter. Evan was standing beside Derek, listening to his precise instructions.
Meredith smiled and padded over to the stove. "Good morning." She smiled and kissed Derek's ear. Meredith looked over at Heather and Ava and kissed them both on the head and stood beside Evan.
Derek finally turned and smiled at Meredith, capturing her lips in a soft kiss. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
She nodded and picked up a piece of bacon. "I did. Jess is still asleep."
Heather and Ava both jumped down from the counter, and ran over to where Meredith stood. "Mommy, can we please go swimming together?' Ava and her twin sister looked up at Meredith with identical green eyes, pleading for a yes. "Please mama."
Meredith looked to Derek who nodded, along with his amazing smile. "Okay. Go get your suits on. Or at least try, and daddy will help you in a minute."
Both girls gave an enthusiastic raise of their arms and happily ran upstairs to their room.
Derek finished up their breakfast and sat the table "I'll get the twins ready, and Jess too."
Meredith smiled and lifted Evan. "Okay. I'm going to let him eat and then I'll get ready."
He nodded and kissed Meredith before he walked up the stairs to get his girls ready for a day of swimming.
Meredith put Evan in his high chair and let him eat his pancake while she proceeded to make Heather and Ava a plate as well.
Meanwhile Derek had gotten the twins ready and was working on finding Jessica's bathing suit.
Meredith came upstairs and into Jessica's nursery, smiling at a confused looking Derek. She walked around the pink and yellow nursery and quickly located Jessica's red bathing suit. "Here you go baby." She smiled and kissed Derek, simultaneously handing him the bathing suit.
He smirked and looked lovingly at his wife. "Thank you." He smiled softly. "Are you going swimming with me?"
Meredith smirked and finally nodded. "Yeah I guess, but not comments about me and my fat stomach."
Derek raised an eyebrow. "Mere, you are not fat. You look just as gorgeous as you did six years ago. Trust me." He nodded and cupped her cheek softly.
She smiled and put her hand on top of his. "I should go and get your trunks and get myself ready." She nodded and left the nursery, going to get dressed, and prepared for a long day ahead.