Chapter 2 – New priorities

The light was bright in the morning and felt cold against his face. He rolled over to hide his face from the light and groaned as he didn't feel ready to wake up, but knew it was time. With a sigh, he lifted his hand to check his watch. It was almost 8 o'clock in the morning; he couldn't remember the last time he had woken up at that hour. The sleep had been deep and calm, but he still felt tired and just then he felt how much he had worked lately. His body ached when he stretched to get out of bed.

He trailed to the window and there was a nice surprise outside. Everything was white. It wasn't snowing anymore, but the weather was still grey.

Derek laughed to himself. Someone would be happy to see the landscape. He walked out of the bedroom and slowly approached Daniel's. The door was open and as he pushed it and walked in, he found the bed empty and already made. Just then he heard the voices downstairs; his mother laughing and Daniel telling something. He returned in his room to get ready for the day.

When he came downstairs, Derek found Daniel eating at the table and his mother still cooking. It smelled like pancakes and waffles; her breakfast for her grandchildren. Derek's stomach growled loud enough to be a considered a 'good morning'.

Daniel and Carolyn stopped and looked surprised at the unexpected sound and then started laughing together.

"Good morning to you too," his mother laughed and flipped another pancake. "Breakfast is on the table. Coffee or milk?"

How Derek loved his mother! "Milk," he decided. In a snowy morning, with his son and spoiled by his mother, milk sounded just right.

"Look," Daniel smiled broadly at Derek and pointed outside the window.

"I saw," Derek chuckled. "How great is that? You get to play in the snow."

Daniel nodded very serious. "After I eat," he stated.

Derek was impressed with the answer, but his mother laughed knowingly. "Of course he first ran barefoot outside in the snow."

"Daniel," Derek scolded with a soft frown.

Daniel giggled and stabbed another piece of his pancake to shove into his mouth.

Derek leaned back in his chair and his cheeks almost hurt from the smile. Daniel had almost everything from his mother; her hair, her eyes, her giggle and he was still going to discover more.

The breakfast was long. They all stood at the table, eating and talking. Daniel made the whole conversation. He told them about his friends in Seattle, how some of them broke a leg or lost a toy, or how their parents grounded them; he also talked about his friends' parents and their story. His sentences didn't make much sense all the time, but he was allowed to keep talking, just to see how much he could chatter and also because it was sweet to hear his voice. The grown-ups laughed at everything he was saying; that sweet and funny he was.

"My God!" Carolyn laughed, shaking her head. "You have a gossip boy, Derek."

"I know!" he laughed, and the kitchen filled with good mood.

"So what happened next?" his grandmother asked.

"Clistina cut her hair," Daniel explained very amused.

"Can you say 'r'? Derek cut in, interrupting briefly the story.

"R," Daniel repeated and did it correctly.

"Then why don't you say 'Cristina' instead of 'Clistina'?" he asked.

Daniel shrugged.

Derek looked a little worried at his mother.

"He spells most of the words correctly, Derek," his mother reassured him. "He's too smart for his age. Go on, sweetie," Carolyn encouraged Daniel, while she stood up to start cleaning the table.

"And she cried," Daniel continued and added a giggle.

"Cristina cried?" Carolyn acted impressed.

Daniel giggled and nodded. "And you know what Tuck did?"

"What?"

"He hid in her bag," he burst into laugh.

"Oh no!" Carolyn acted shocked. "And what did Cristina do then?"

Daniel shrugged.

His grandma narrowed her eyes. "Are you lying to us, Daniel?"

"No!" Daniel shook his head, very serious. "He hid! He did!"

"And did you help Cristina stop crying?" she asked then.

"No," Daniel shook his head. "Clistina doesn't like babies."

"How old is Cristina?" Derek asked, suspicious. "Is she a big girl?"

Daniel nodded. "Like mommy."

"Oh," Derek nodded. "I know her."

"You do?" Daniel looked surprised.

"I do. She's mommy's friend, isn't she?"

"Yes," Daniel nodded.

"I don't like Cristina," Derek said.

"I like Clistina," Daniel stated.

"You do? But she doesn't like babies."

"Sometimes she likes me."

"Oh so it depends on how nice you are to her," Derek said.

Daniel shrugged. He sighed and looked outside the window. He seemed to be getting tired of talking.

"Are you done with the sandwich, Daniel?" his grandma asked him.

Daniel looked at his peanut butter sandwich and nodded. He had to be full after pancakes and two peanut butter sandwiches.

Daniel stood up from the table and ran quickly to the door.

"Oh no, Daniel," his grandma called after him. "You just ate. Go play and wait for us to clean around here. Besides, are you going outside in your pajamas?"

Daniel sighed and looked disappointed, but didn't argue. He listened to his grandma and went to play while he waited for them to finish.

"He has some appetite," Derek chuckled as he watched his boy trailing out of the kitchen.

"He didn't have much for dinner last night," his mother pointed out. She put the plates in the sink and turned to her son with a wide smile. "He's great."

"Yes, he is," Derek agreed undoubtedly. "I can see Meredith through him. He has her ramble," he sighed, melancholy.

His mother suspected something in his smile. "I'd like to meet Meredith," she said. "I talked to her a few times and she seems like a nice lady."

"She is," Derek stated. And noticed his mother's smile. "Are you trying to hook us up now?" he laughed.

"Would it be useless?" she asked.

Derek couldn't answer to that, right away. It wouldn't be useless but… "We have a son together, but it doesn't mean that we have to be a couple," he said. "Besides, I am engaged."

"You were engaged a year ago, too," his mother pointed out.

"Why don't you like Addison, mom?"

"I like Addison, son," she answered.

"Right."

"I do, Derek. She's smart, beautiful. She loves you."

"Then? Because we all see you are not very fond of her."

"Name them," she smiled knowingly.

Derek suppressed a groan and rolled his eyes, but a smile crept along his lips.

"You're overreacting, Derek," Carolyn added. "Or better said, Addison is overreacting."

"Still," Derek put aside the towel and turned to his mother. "She's not the wife you want for me."

"Derek…" she paused briefly, looking for the right words. "I want to see you with a family. Work is not everything in life. And Addison…" paused again as the words were difficult to found. "She's so much like you. I hear you both how you want to lead your departments. That means more time at work and less time for your personal life. I bet you two don't even know each that well."

"Now that's…" Derek started to laugh, but his mother stopped him with a firm look. She knew better.

"Derek, admit it. You two have sex in on call rooms, occasionally. When was the last time you were out on a date?"

"Mom, I am not going to talk about my sex life with you!"

"Derek," Carolyn smiled. "You know very well what I am trying to say here. Admit it! Not right now. Give yourself time to think… I bet you know Meredith better than you know Addison."

"I wouldn't say so," Derek shook his head firmly.

"I say think about it," Carolyn insisted.

Derek wasn't ready to discuss his love life with anyone, at the moment. "I am going to help Daniel get dressed."

"Make sure you dress him warm enough," she asked and leaned against the sink as she watched her son leaving the kitchen. She was willing to accept his denials as long as he wouldn't make the big step, the wedding.

Derek could hear from the stairs the sound of two cars crashing. He laughed silently and shook his head. Daniel surely liked cars and now he had to teach him how to play with them.

Derek found Daniel in his room, as expected, playing down on the floor with the cars. Daniel had his back turned to the door when his father walked in and Derek found something weird in his movements as Daniel looked tired.

"What are you doing here, buddy?" Derek crouched next to him.

Daniel panted and heavily lifted his head to Derek. His face was bright red and looked exhausted indeed.

"Daniel?" Derek asked panicked. He gently put his hands on his cheeks for a closer examination. "Are you feeling sick?"

Daniel nodded and seemed to have some trouble breathing. He ran the back of his hand over his face and hung on Derek with both hands. "I want mommy."

"Open your mouth for me, Daniel," Derek said. Daniel did as he's been told and Derek saw his red tongue. "Daniel, has mommy ever given you peanut butter?" Daniel shook his head. "Of course not," Derek muttered. "Come here," he picked Daniel into his arms and looked around the room after his jacket.

"Mommy," Daniel started to whimper.

"You'll see mommy soon," he tried to reassure him. He looked around the room to see if they had to take anything else with them. He hurried outside and down the stairs, shouting to his mother, "Call Ash and tell her to wait for us!"

"What?" his mother asked, confused. "You don't have to take him…" she started to say, but stopped as she came out of the kitchen and saw how Daniel looked. "Oh no," she seemed to know what was wrong with the boy, too. "I am coming with you!" she stated quickly and hurried to the closet for her jacket.

---

Luckily, the traffic was still light at that hour in the morning, so Derek made it to the hospital in record time. Carolyn stood in the backseats with Daniel, trying to sooth his pain the best way she could. He held his head on her lap and whimpered silently, now and then asking for his mommy.

Derek and Carolyn headed straight to the Pediatrics, where Derek's youngest sister was working as pediatrician.

A tall, blonde woman was writing down in a chart, at the nurses' station. She caught a glimpse of them with the corner of her eyes and stopped suddenly from writing, lifting her head to look better at them.

"Mom, Derek?" she questioned. "You called, but…" she fixed her gaze on Daniel, who had snuggled in Derek's arms. "Is he…"

"We don't have time now," Derek frowned. "Can you give him something?"

His mother nodded at Ashley as answer to her confusion.

"Sure. Let's go in there," she pointed to an exam room. Her mother had told her briefly what was about, so she had everything prepared in there. "Give him to me," she held her hands out to take Daniel for a quick consult, but Daniel whimpered and pulled away, hanging on Derek.

"Just give him the shot, Ashley!" Derek snapped. He was too worried for Daniel to stand his sister's slowness. Besides that, he was frustrated with himself for not knowing that his son was allergic to peanuts.

Derek took a seat in a chair and put Daniel on his lap. "She's going to give you a shot to make you feel better," he tried to explain Daniel what was going on, so he wouldn't panic.

Daniel rubbed his eyes and shook his head. "No."

"But you know you have to," Derek cupped his cheeks to look into his eyes. There was sadness in his eyes and Derek could tell how much Daniel needed his mommy. "Mommy will be very proud of you to hear what a brave boy you've been today."

"Which we can't tell about him," his sister muttered jokingly to her mother.

Derek didn't mind her comment. First of all, Daniel had to get better, and just after that he would sort things out with Meredith.

Daniel squeezed his eyes tightly when Ashley came to them with the syringe, and leaned closer in Derek's arms.

"It doesn't hurt at all," he reassured him, gently brushing his hair.

Daniel nodded as if he wanted to believe that, too, but kept his eyes closed.

Ashley was done quickly with the shot and Daniel whimpered just a little when the needle pierced the skin.

"We have a room for him. He needs to stay under observation for a little while and he also needs to get some sleep," Ashley told them. "It's over now, sweetie," she leaned to Daniel as he kept holding his eyes closed.

He opened one eye to peak at her and made sure that she was honest, just then opening the other one. He stared into the blue eyes of his aunt as she kept watching him.

"Do you know who am I?" she asked him and Daniel shook his head. "I am your aunt Ashley."

Daniel shook his head again. "No," he answered quietly. "Nancy is my auntie."

His answer made everyone laughed.

"You have a lot of aunts and uncles, Daniel," Ashley told him. "And also a few cousins to play with."

"I play with Tuck," he muttered.

Ashley smiled kindly at him and caressed his cheek. "He's adorable," she told Derek. "Does he look like… what's her name? Meredith?"

Derek nodded and before he could say anything, Daniel cut in, "She's my mommy."

Ashley smiled at him. "Nancy said she would surprise mom… Happy birthday, mom," she stopped mid sentence as she remembered Carolyn's birthday.

"That's right," Derek forgot that small detail. "Happy birthday, mom."

"Thanks," she smiled at them.

"Where's Meredith?" Ashley asked.

"Home," Daniel answered.

"You're very chatty for a sick boy," she laughed. "Does anyone know that he is allergic to peanuts?"

"Nancy," Carolyn answered. "I just called her to tell her about Daniel, and she forgot to mention this."

Ashley shook her head with disapproval. "You should have known that," she told Derek.

"Ok, let's take him to his room," Carolyn cut in. None needed a fight at the moment, especially Daniel.

---

That morning at the hospital, Derek had left Daniel only for a short while as he filled the papers. He stayed by his bed and watched his peaceful sleep. The intoxication wasn't very bad as Daniel started to feel and look better a few minutes after the shot. His sleep allowed Derek to analyze better the situation. In his head, he made a plan and knew what he had to do now.

"How is he?" his mother asked in whisper.

"Much better. Still sleeping."

"That's good," she approached to the bed and smiled as she saw Daniel's cute face. "I brought him some clothes," she whispered and put aside a bag. "I talked to Meredith," she stated.

Derek's head titled up surprised.

"I told her what happened."

"Thank you," Derek nodded, thankful.

"She said his allergy isn't that bad. He just has to eat a few peanuts or a small piece of cake. Peanut butter is out of discussion."

Derek let out a sigh and turned his attention to his boy. "Was she mad?"

"She tried not to sound mad, but I think she was. Nancy will definitely be asked to give some explanations."

Derek said, without looking away from Daniel, "I will take him home tomorrow." Daniel stirred in his sleep and after rolling from one side to another, he set on the same side, facing Derek. His hand rested now inches away from Derek's hand. Derek touched the tips of his fingers and covered his little hand. That was the feeling of a déjà vu. And he could recall the moment he felt that way; when Daniel was around 6 month-old and he went to see him in Seattle. He remembered sleeping with him that night, holding his hand just like he was doing now, and how proud he felt of having a son. When had he lost it? he kept asking himself.

Derek noticed his mother's silence. He turned his head to find her sitting in the couch, watching them.

"I knew you would make the right decision."

Derek nodded, not very optimistic. He kissed Daniel's hand and stood up to go and sit beside his mother. "He calls me Derek," he muttered.

"You will have some work to do. He's not a baby anymore. He is a little person with big personality," Carolyn stated.

Derek chuckled. Daniel surely knew how to surprise them with the little things he said. And they still hadn't found everything about him.

"It's going to be alright," Carolyn patted his hand reassuringly. "Meredith knows what's best for Daniel, so you two will get to an agreement."

Derek had no doubt about that; but he still felt something in the pit of his stomach when he thought about Meredith and the fact that he would see her the next day.

"I am going home. I have to prepare the house for the party."

"I am taking Daniel to my apartment, to rest there until later," Derek stated. "What are we going to do about the cake? He cannot have peanuts or almonds today."

"I will find a cake to make for him," she reassured him. "Don't bring him if he doesn't feel well. I will see him tomorrow before you leave."

"Ok," Derek agreed. He gave his mom a kiss and she stood up. She stopped in the doorway and looked at Derek, "Take care of him."

"Of course," Derek smiled and walked her to the door. He closed the door and moved back in the chair beside the bed.

He checked his watch and saw it was almost noon. He had to talk to his chief about a few days off, but that could wait until Daniel would wake up.

The door opened slowly and Derek felt someone standing in the doorway. As he turned to look at the person visiting him, he saw Addison.

"I heard," she said quietly. "How is he?" she asked and slowly walked in, so her heels wouldn't wake Daniel up.

"He's better," Derek nodded.

"How are you feeling?"

Derek shrugged. "I am good."

She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed comfortingly. "You're tired."

"A little bit," he admitted, with a tired smile.

"I talked to the Chief about today and he said you could take the day off tomorrow too if you need."

"Thanks. I still have to go see him. Who took my patients?"

"I think Dr. Madson," she answered. "I am sorry, Derek."

Derek looked up at her, confused. What did she have to apologize for?

"For not helping you remember your son,"

"Addison." He smiled, shaking her head. Her apologize were unnecessary.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I am taking him home tomorrow. I will talk to Meredith and... we'll see."

A moment of silence fell between them as neither of them knew what to say next. Derek wasn't in the mood for talking and Addison looked uncomfortable with Daniel there.

"You never told me about your relationship with Meredith," she said.

Derek shook his head. "Not now."

"I don't know anything about your past with her, Derek. And you two have a child together."

"Addison!" Derek said firmly, refusing to talk about it. "I said not now."

Addison folded her arms against her chest, not very thrilled with Derek's snap, but decided not to insist. "I haven't bought your mother a present, yet. I am not sure if a plant is the right present."

"Addison," Derek groaned, annoyed with the same old, annoying story.

"Why are you so grumpy? I am trying to distract you a little bit from all these."

"Huh?" Derek laughed sarcastically. "Don't you think I've been distracted enough?"

Addison sighed. "I am sorry."

"I don't care what you buy for mom and I sure you that she doesn't care either."

Daniel started to fuss as the grown-ups raised their voices. He slowly opened his eyes and Derek was the first thing he saw. "Derek," he muttered his name sleepily.

"Hey, buddy," Derek leaned over to kiss him. "How are you feeling?"

Daniel shrugged sleepily. He put his thumb into his mouth and looked around him. His eyes fixed on Addison and smiled shyly as she smiled at him. He rolled onto his stomach and stood up, crawling to Derek. "Who is she?" he asked in a whisper, but loud enough for Addison to hear, too.

"She's Addison," Derek told him. "My friend."

"Your friend?" Addison chuckled, honestly amused.

Derek frowned at her. "I am not in the mood to explain him the whole situation. He's confused enough."

"I am sorry," she gave in.

"I am sorry, too," Derek sighed. "It's just that you chose the worst moments for the silliest worries."

"I am done now." Addison didn't look very content with Derek's attitude, but chose not to argue. She seemed to understand his situation, though.

"Mommy works here," Daniel put an end to the tension between Derek and Addison.

"She works in a hospital, doesn't she?" Derek asked him.

Daniel nodded his head.

"But she works in a hospital in Seattle," Derek reminded him and Daniel seemed to know that as he nodded again.

"I am not sick. I want to go home," he muttered.

"I am taking you home," Derek reassured him.

"Now?"

"Not right now, but in a few minutes. I am going after Ash for his discharge papers," Derek told Addison, leaving Daniel's side.

"Derek?" Daniel called shyly from his bed.

Derek stopped in the doorway to turn and look at his son, who was watching him with pleading eyes. "What is it?"

"Be back," he muttered.

That went straight to Derek's heart and cluttered his feelings.

"I will be right back, ok?"

"Ok," Daniel smiled.

And Derek was back, as he had promised him, ready to take him home.

----

"You stay here?" Daniel stepped into the apartment, hesitant as he was in an unfamiliar place.

"I live here. Yes," Derek answered. He hung their jackets in the closet and stopped to watch Daniel as he peaked around in the kitchen. "Do you like where I live?"

Daniel turned to look at Derek and shook his head.

"Why not?" Derek pretended to pout.

Daniel couldn't tell exactly why, but it was because Derek's place didn't look very homey. His apartment was soberly decorated and definitely there weren't toys scattered in each corner of the house as Daniel was familiar with.

Derek stuffed his hands into his pocket, looking uncomfortable. He didn't know what he was supposed to do with Daniel now. He didn't have toys for Daniel to play with; he had a video game, but it wasn't suitable for Daniel's age.

"Do you want to watch cartoons?"

Daniel nodded. "I like cartoons."

"Ok, then," he laughed.

Daniel held his hand up for Derek to lead him into the living room. Derek smiled, pleased. It wasn't that difficult after all. He let Daniel climb in the couch, while he looked for the remote and turned the TV on. He surfed through the channels and started to get frustrated; he knew he had at least one cartoon channel in the program list. He glanced over his shoulder to Daniel, who was looking at him, patiently waiting.

"There it is!" Derek beamed victoriously. "Let me move it somewhere where we can find it easier." He let the TV on the cartoon channel and took a seat in the couch with Daniel.

Daniel was sitting nicely, paying attention to the cartoons.

"Are you hungry?" Derek asked him.

"No," he shook his head, without tearing his eyes from the TV.

"Thirsty?" he asked.

Daniel looked at him and shrugged.

"Daniel, if you need anything, tell me, ok?" Derek told him. "You don't have to be shy. We're friends now."

"I know," Daniel answered sweetly. "Are you mommy's friend, too?"

"Yes, I am."

"You can stay with us then," Daniel stated matter-of-factly.

"I can?" Derek laughed.

Daniel nodded firmly. "You have an ugly house."

"You think I am not happy in this house?"

"Are you?" Daniel asked.

Derek was surprised with their conversation. "You can't spell Cristina correctly, but you can make conversations like this?" he laughed.

Daniel giggled and nodded as yes. "Stop!" he giggled and raised his hand to block Derek's view, as Derek kept smiling down at him.

Derek put an arm around him and drew closer, hugging him. He had all the reason to be proud of his son and, especially, of his mother. "I am going to bring you a juice."

Because he hadn't spent much time at home, lately, Derek didn't have any bottled juice for Daniel. Instead he found some oranges and squeezed the juice out of them. As he returned in the living room with the glasses, Derek found Daniel sleeping. He put the glasses aside and slowly picked him up to carry him into his room.

The events during that morning had worn him out as well. He looked for a blanket in the closet and lay down with his son, quickly falling asleep.

---

"Derek!" Daniel shouted from the other room. "Derek! Someone came! Derek!"

Derek chuckled. "I heard you!" he shouted back. He threw the tie on the bed and went to answer the door.

Daniel was sitting like a puppy beside the door. "Who is it?" he asked.

"Let's see," Derek smiled and opened the door to find Addison standing by their door.

"She's Addie," Daniel told Derek as if he didn't know.

"He remembers my name," Addison laughed, visibly thrilled. "And look how cute you are in your tux."

Daniel giggled, playing shy, and ran back in the living room. "Don't sweep the floor with your clothes, Daniel!" Derek shouted at him. "He likes to trail on his knees all over the place," he explained to Addison.

"You seem to get along pretty well," she noticed.

"Yes. He's easy to handle. I need to get ready," he said, as he already had to fix his tie and do his hair.

"What time are you leaving tomorrow?"

"At 11:30," Derek answered.

"Is Nancy going to come with you?"

Derek smiled at her and answered, "No. She has no business in this anymore. Should I stay without a tie?" he looked for her opinion.

"Without," she suggested. "Daniel is dressed up enough."

"What have you bought mom?"

Addison sighed. "A plant. But I don't think she would mind my gift much, if I appear there with Daniel. He's a present enough."

Derek had to agree with her on that. It didn't matter what the others bought for Carolyn's birthday and how expensive their gifts were, Daniel's visit was the most priceless.

"Do you know how you can please mom?" Derek told her. "Give her a grandchild."

Addison chuckled, taking everything as a joke. "She has one already, Derek. I don't think she wishes another one, so soon." Derek shrugged suggestively. "You think?"

"I know it," Derek answered. "We haven't talked about babies much," he pointed out.

"We haven't, but we still have time. Besides, you know we have to choose the right time. We have other priorities now."

"I've learned something in past 24 hours," Derek stated. "You don't know when the right time is for a baby and I sure have other priorities now. It seemed like the right time back then, but later it wasn't, and now it seems like all this time was the right time."

Addison was a little troubled with Derek's statement. "Why did you let her keep the baby? Why did she keep the baby?"

Derek smiled, calm. He sat down on the bed and motioned for her to sit somewhere. "I wouldn't call what I had with Meredith, a relationship. I am not sure what it was, because it had a little of everything. I met her when Dr. Webber asked me to stay at Seattle Grace for a few weeks as they were short staff in neurology. Meredith was my first resident there. Very ambitious and talented; not surprising considering that Ellis Grey was her mother. We hung out a lot and… sex was involved, of course. I would lie if I don't admit that I enjoyed every minute spent with her. We agreed not to call what we had, a relationship because we knew I would leave, which I did. We kept talking on phone very often until one day, she stopped answering my calls. I called Dr. Webber, thinking that something might have happened to her; but he told me to insist. And then she called and told me she was pregnant. She asked for my help because she didn't know what to do."

Addison listened to him in silence, not interrupting him once.

"Back then, I was excited at the idea of having a baby with her. I don't know, maybe it was because we had had a few children as patients and I saw her with them. She was caring and knew what to tell them to ease their pain. She looked great around children," he smiled, his thoughts reviewing the memories. "I promised I would help her with everything I could if she decided to keep the baby. And she kept it. She trusted me and I failed in keeping all my promises. I wasn't even there when Daniel was born. I arrived a few hours later." He stopped and remained thoughtful. He looked at Addison and smiled. "My priorities changed. It's something you have to understand."

"I know," Addison sighed, visibly not entirely ok with what Derek was saying.

"Mom is afraid that you and I will never have a real family together. She thinks we work too much. Which is true," Derek stated. "It's time for all of us to revise our priorities now."

"Because Daniel is back?"

"Yes."

Addison just nodded.

"Can we go now?" they heard Daniel asking quietly from the doorway, pulling on his bow tie.

"Yes, we can, but come here first," Derek called him to him. He undid Daniel's bow tie, releasing him from its uncomfortable grip. "We don't have to look that formal."

Daniel agreed with him. "I hold the flowers."

"Of course. You bought them for her so you get to offer them," Derek reassured him.

"Let's go," Daniel took Derek's hand. "I want to party."

Derek laughed. That had surely learned from his mother. And so Derek took Daniel, ready to introduce him to the rest of the family.

---

N/A: It took me a while to bring this chapter up because I've been sick and couldn't focus on writing. The next chapter won't be up sooner either as next week I will be gone on a short holiday, so I will post it next weekend or on Monday.