A/N Nov 4, 2012 – Thanks to the very few that read & commented on chapter one. The premise was based on other option besides killing Lexie/Mark; especially since there are now 3-4 new characters? However, the accident did happen, so, I played with it a bit and provided different outcomes, and addressed, albeit briefly (but longer than on Grey's), Meredith's miscarriage and "hostile uterus & fibroids" that thanks to Google was able to find a much more reliable source from the Mayo Clinic vs. Shondaland's portrayal on Grey's Absurdity.
I hope you enjoy this version of what could have been, and the liberty in incorporating some common sense and logical explanations. I tried to fit my would have liked scenes in here, hence you find some longer than usual narrative. Would love your feedback, even if you think this is the worst MD fic … you've ever read. Warm regards, Jasmin
p.s. don't forget to Vote on Tuesday. It's a privilege not to be taken for granted.
Heartwarming Kitchen Memories - Part 2
"Daddy," Sofia rushed to the couple, and her father lifted her in his arms. "We missed you… de aqui a la luna," she held his face in her small hands and squeezed, while Mark made faces that made her laugh, before continuing her conversation. "You was gone a long long time Daddy, and my baby brother and me…we missed you so much," she emphasized by wrapping her little arms tightly around his neck.
"Ma-ma…ma-ma…" the baby boy reached for his mother as Derek kissed her cheek.
"How's my baby," Lexie showered her seven month old son with kisses. "Mommy missed you and your sister and couldn't wait to see you," she hugged him; never taking for granted the second chance at life; one that had made her change her mind about many priorities. "How about we give Daddy a kiss, and I have to say hello to your sister," she talked to the baby as she walked to stand next to her husband of less than two years.
Mark took his son from her and held both their children as he smiled at his wife, before she took Sofia from him. "I heard you were a great helper to Aunt Meredith and Uncle Derek," Lexie said affectionally, and kissed and hugged her before putting her down; all the while, not forgetting her niece, "and so was my other favorite little girl in the whole wide girl," she had a kiss and hug for Zola as well.
"Auntie Lexie," Zola hugged her back, "we was really good helpers… and me's your other favowite little girl…cause of you're Sofia's other mommy...and my cousin Laura she be a big girl…and you tols me I you favowite little niece… cause Laura is biggest …and I knows lots and lots of Spanish…and I knows Sofia tells Uncle Mark she miss you all the way to the moon, cause of luna means moon."
"That's right," Lexie smiled at her young niece as she realized she'd just about perfected the Grey sisters' rambles.
"Mer," Derek had gone to her side. "You know I'd never say you were fat..."
"Zola heard you…and Sofia," Meredith accused with a lingering sniffle.
"Meredith," he whispered as he sat down next to her. "I love…the way you look," he focused on her eyes, "you know that, and of course I didn't say that…"
"She repeats everything," Meredith said of their daughter, "she does…"
"She's also an excellent story teller," Derek reminded her, and her eyes softened, and when he saw the inevitable smile she tried to hide, placed one hand over hers; both resting protectively on her six month pregnant belly.
"She is," Meredith admitted. "But… she usually understands…and she repeats everything…and…I know I'm fat," her eyes watered, "but…it's the best of reasons…"
"Meredith," his lips brushed hers, "you're beautiful to me," his hand gently massaging her belly, "you know there's nothing I love more than to look at you…that you're pregnant…" he choked up, "that after that time… that you wanted to try…"
"Lexie," Sofia turned to her step-mother, "Uncle Derek and Aunt Merdith gots to go get a picture of the baby in her tummy…and they tolds me Zola is gonna stay here and play with me …but can she stays for a sleepover …please… we be really good…and we help you take care of my baby brother…please?"
"I think," Lexie smiled at her, "we need to ask Aunt Meredith about that."
"Aunt Lexie," Zola informed her, "Daddy's kissing Mamma so she don't hear nothing… cause of when Mamma and Daddy kiss," she sighed and rolled her eyes, "they takes a long time…and you gots to ask them questions lots and lots of times cause of their ears get closed and don't hear when they be kissing…"
Mark's hearty laughter interrupted the kissing couple. "Guilty."
"Uncle Mark," Zola asked him. "What that word mean?"
"It means," Derek glared at Mark, "he's old."
The two little girls giggled; four sets of parental eyes smiled.
"Meredith," Lexie walked over to her sister and sat down. "How are you feeling? Zola can stay with us."
"Derek," Meredith pouted. "Thinks I'm fat."
"Zola, Sofia," Derek called them over, "do you remember what I said about Meredith feeling tired?"
"Yep," Zola said, "cause of she's fat, cause of she has baby in her tummy."
"Zola," Derek could only pray at this point. "Daddy's never said your Mamma was fat."
"Yep, Daddy…" God help him, he sighed, and now prayed for the usual ramble. "You said we gots to be really good girls…and that Mamma didn't get to play hide and seek…cause of she got a baby in her tummy…and the baby is getting bigger and bigger before I can see my baby…so…Mamma not run up and down the staiws… she has to walk…and not chase us … you says that Daddy," his daughter smiled as she nodded.
"I didn't say your Mamma was fat," Derek tried to reason with his daughter.
"Uncle Derek," Sofia said wisely. "You tolds us we had to be patient and wait for the baby to grow and get big…cause we can't see the baby till it can be born…and Aunt Merdith gots to get fat…like Lexie when she had my baby brother in her tummy…"
Derek was stunned; speechless. Again.
"Give it up," Meredith actually laughed. "You have now called me and my sister fat."
"Mer," Derek attempted to convince her, "I swear…I never said that…"
"It's ok," Meredith rolled her eyes. "Zola," she turned to her daughter, "we have to remind daddy that we never say that a mommy that's going to have a baby is fat."
"Mamma," her daughter pondered her mother's words, and Derek would have laughed at her expression; the image of Meredith as she bit her lower lip in deep thought. "Daddy said your belly gots to get bigger before my baby is born…Daddy not use that word…Mamma… he tolds me and Sofia that not be a nice word… but…we knows… Auntie Lexie was fat … cause of Uncle Mark said she eat lots and lots of chocolate…"
"Aunt Merdith," Sofia added, "Uncle Derek not use fat word… but me and Zola we talks lots and lots…cause we want to see the baby in your tummy…and when Lexie had my baby brother Daddy said she was fat and made her cry…but he went to the store lots and lots and got Reese's and she was happy…and told him…cause I saw them kissing right here in the kitchen…" both little girls laughed, "like you and Uncle Derek…and she tolds him…she knew she was fat… like a tractor…right Lexie," she didn't pause for long, "you tolds Daddy you knew you was fat cause you was having a baby, so he had to shut up…but it's nicer not to say shut up."
"Guilty?" Derek raised an eyebrow.
"Daddy," Zola clapped. "I knows that word… you be old…and I know that word in Spanish…it be viejo…like in the book Aunt Callie was reading…"
"Mer," Lexie laughed. "We may get fat," her son was back in her arms, and she handed him over to her sister, "but, it's totally worth it… at least we're not old."
"Mamma," Zola pleaded her case, "me stays at sleepover… pease?"
Meredith met Derek's gaze, and he nodded his consent, but she had become more overprotective.
"Zola," her mother explained. "Aunt Lexie and Uncle Mark, just got back from a trip and they need to unpack and will want to rest, but you can stay to play, and Daddy and I will come and get you and you'll sleep at home…"
"Mer," Lexie told her. "You and Derek need time alone."
"You just had four days of medical consultations, you need rest," Meredith pointed out.
"One day," Lexie smiled. "The other three, we had lots of rest."
"You're limping again," Meredith, "and you don't need to be chasing after three kids."
"You're pregnant," Lexie shrugged, "and Sofia and Zola don't need chasing after."
"I'm you're older sister," Meredith stated. "You're supposed to listen to me."
"While the two of you discuss the merits of age," Mark reached for his son, "this one's become one stinky baby…I'll take him and change him."
"We help daddy, cause I teached him you gots to use wipes…he can't put my baby brother in the sink," she looked at Lexie for confirmation, "and wash his bottom," and both she and Zola giggled all over again. "My baby brother has really stinky diapers."
"Yes, Uncle Mark…I run to get the diaper. Come Daddy, you tells Mommy I real good helper and me stay for sleepover…pease"
"No need to chase them," Meredith smirked, as she watched her husband follow their daughter's instructions.
"Be quiet," Lexie told her, "and stay still, I want to try to feel any movement…"
"There's movement," Meredith smiled indulgently. If anyone had told her when she first met Lexie she'd actually look forward to time with her sister, she'd have rejected the possibilities; in fact, she'd rejected Lexie. Now, she looked forward to moments like this; not to mention, how she felt about having children before Derek came into her life. "Just not strong enough for you to feel it," Meredith told her. "It's driving Derek crazy."
"You mean," Lexie said, "it's driving you crazy…"
"He doesn't let up," Meredith giggled, "especially at night, he's trying to get them to move, and I want to kill him… for keeping me up…"
"I'm sure," Lexie smirked, "that's not why he's keeping you up."
Meredith smiled. "There's been sex…just not as…well you know…"
"Meredith," Lexie laughed. "Derek would die if he knew we're talking about this."
"He heard me talking to Nancy about pregnant sex when she was here a month ago," Meredith said, "and he left the room, and now his sisters love to tease him about it," she giggled. "That he's a prude and still can't handle that his sisters have sex."
"They're a baby production team," Lexie laughed.
Immediately upon learning of the plane crash, without knowing if they'd been found dead or alive, Carolyn and his sisters had flown to Seattle. Amelia had been the first to arrive with Addison, who did not want to leave her alone, as she'd feared for her reaction if Derek did not survive, especially after her recent devastating pregnancy.
Mark and Cristina, presumably, the two least injured; Meredith refused to leave Derek or Lexie's side, had searched the surrounding area in the hopes of finding their phones. Thankfully, Cristina's bag was located near the site, her phone still intact and able to power on, but after several attempts to call, the strength of the signal failed to connect. Owen became aware of two missed calls, the elation of the discovery giving them hope some had survived. The authorities immediately followed the lead of the GPS application of his wife's phone and rescue helicopters were able to locate the crash site and transport the victims to the Boise hospital within the first few critical ours after the crash.
Derek's family had been ready to accompany the Seattle team to Boise and was refused. Carolyn Shepherd, however, would not budge, and held her granddaughter most of the way, creating a bond that would become instrumental in Meredith's future relationship with his family.
Derek's sisters, in the agonizing hours that followed the evaluation of his and Mark's condition, with Addison's presence, rediscovered those old familial ties that bind. Addison, once she was confident Mark and Derek would survive, remained in Seattle only one day after their return.
The week that followed, Cristina still catatonic, provided Meredith with the first glimpse of many Shepherd family secrets; their arguments and disagreements; the deep bonds and love shared between them. This family she had inherited would not be kept away, not anymore, and surprisingly, she didn't want to run the other way; but, she still wouldn't agree to move to Boston. His sisters went back to their families with the promise that Derek and Meredith would visit as soon as possible, and introduce Zola to her cousins.
Carolyn Grey stayed for a month, and became Zola's favorite person, after her Mamma and Daddy, and made Carolyn and Meredith cry when it was Gamma she wanted to cuddle with at night, instead of her favorite lion and giraffe.
Arizona's severe injuries had required the amputation of both legs, and months later ultimately accepted her fate and her relationship with Callie survived the turbulence that followed. Both she and Callie agreed they wanted another child. Arizona continued to mentor Alex and he'd been living with the new intern for over a year at Meredith's house. Cristina went to Mayo and filed for a divorce that Owen refused to grant, and she didn't insist, but told him she was moving on and was having an affair with her boss. During the last year, they'd been working at reconciling.
Mark's injuries became apparent after the initial assessment, but were not life threatening. Lexie lost her spleen, and after two additional surgeries had been paralyzed from the waist down, but Derek's medical expertise and assessment of the situation ensured it was a temporary condition. The best surgeons available were on the east coast and extensive rehabilitation would be necessary, hence Mark relocated to be with her during that entire year, with Mark traveling to see Sofia three to four times a month.
"Meredith," Lexie hesitated. "Do you have any regrets? I mean… after the accident…you made changes… took risks…and…"
"None," she reached for her sister's hand. "Not a single one," she smiled and protectively placed both her hands over her abdomen, "or two…" she met Lexie's equally misty gaze.
"Mamma," Zola came rushing in to the kitchen. "Daddy says I can have sleepover… if you says ok."
"Daddy said that," Meredith hesitated. "And what about Uncle Mark?"
"He says we gets to have pwesents cause of he and Auntie Lexie gots them when they was away… on cation Mamma…"
"You can stay," Meredith agreed, unable to dampen her enthusiasm. "But, you have to do everything Auntie Lexie says…and you can't go up the stairs unless she's with you."
"I love you Mamma… to the luna and back …" she had gotten in the habit of using Spanish words like Sofia did.
"Me too baby," she leaned over slightly to give her a kiss.
"Mamma," Zola protested. "Me not be a baby. Baby in your tummy…and I love my baby," the little girl said and placed a kiss on her mother's belly before running back out.
"You still haven't said anything," Lexie stated.
"I just want to make sure," Meredith's hands remained on her babies, "that they're both ok… she wouldn't understand."
"Mer," Lexie assured, "the babies are fine… I know they are...we didn't go through so much," both sisters never failed to get emotional over the accident and its aftermath, "for more heartache…I have faith…I do…and Carolyn has taught me we need that…so much…Meredith…think about it, we could have been left in the woods… for days …and it could have been…we could have died…out there…and," she still remembered the fear as Cristina, Mark and Meredith moved lighter parts of the fuselage and airplane seats to protect her. "The animals…roaming…when we heard them… "
"We survived." Meredith turned to her, hugged her. "We're here…"
"I love you Meredith," Lexie hugged her back. "I'm so glad to have you in my life."
"I love you too," the older sister sniffled. "Being here, what our lives are now… that's all that matters."
"Lexie," Sofia ran into the kitchen and placed a small bag on the table. "Daddy said this was for Aunt Merdith… and Uncle Derek said you have to hurry cause of you go to the doctor to see my baby cousin."
"You got the chocolate truffles," Meredith smiled, her mouth watered, and reached for the familiar dark blue box and its stars and moon design from Portland.
"All dark chocolate," Lexie told her. "But you have to share."
"Why?"
"Because," Lexie said, "we brought you nine boxes…one for each week left."
"Oh Lexie," Meredith's eyes watered, "I hope… it's nine more weeks…"
"Hey," Lexie said, "as close to it as possible and your babies will be just fine."
The prolonged laughter and giggles from the living room piqued the sisters' curiosity and they joined their families in the living room; Meredith and Lexie exchanged smiles and words were unnecessary as they acknowledged their lives were indeed blessed.
"Meredith, Derek," the obstetrician addressed them both, "we're about ready for the ultrasound, have you changed your mind about knowing the sex of the babies?"
"No," Derek replied immediately. "But," he saw the worried look on her face, the familiar biting of the lower lip. "If Meredith wants to know… we can…"
"What," Meredith responded quickly. "No… you want to be surprised… we can wait…just…as long as we know they're healthy… we can wait…"
"Ok," the doctor smiled. "Since you're familiar with these, I'm going to turn the screen to take a look myself, and figure out if they're being modest this time…"
"Oh Derek," Meredith's eyes watered immediately upon hearing the first hear beat, "it's strong...and fast…it's…" he wiped her tears away, "but…Dr. Cameron, it's only one… what's wrong…is…"
"There's nothing wrong," the doctor assured her and made the corresponding notes as the strong heartbeat sound continued to fill the room. "Now…let's go to this baby's brother or sister…" and again, the sounds made Meredith cry.
"Babies are ok," Meredith said, "they both sound…they…" and her voice cracked.
"Both babies are fine," Mike Cameron smiled, "and being as modest as the last time. Take a look Mom and Dad, there's no chance you'll figure out the sexes from their positions," and he turned the monitor to face them.
"Derek," Meredith's hand went over her heart, "our babies..." and she wiped away the tears with the back of one hand, and held on tightly to Derek's, as she memorized the screen before her.
"Our babies," Derek said reverently. "Meredith, they're almost holding hands…"
"Almost," she smiled through the tears, "they're beautiful…look at them, facing each other…and perfect little heads… Derek…"
"We have two healthy babies," the doctor smiled. "We've had good weight gain from last time and almost exactly the same right now… 26 weeks and we have two pounds and one pound 10 ounces."
"That's good," Meredith asked, "right…they're not too small…and in case…"
"Meredith," Dr. Cameron assured her, "they are developing very healthy, by your next appointment in two weeks they will have gained more weight, and all your vitals are good… we got your tests back already," she had asked to come in the day before so they could discuss the results when they saw him today; the last time, he'd had to rush out when a patient was ready to deliver and they'd had to wait till the next day.
"So…" Derek sighed in relief, "blood pressure is good; glucose level, no protein in urine," he rattled most of what they were checking for.
"Derek," Mike Cameron laughed, "I hope you're not thinking of going into obstetrics, I'd have a hard time competing with all the McDreamy traits."
"Nancy and Kathleen are nosy gossips," Derek told him.
"Derek," Cameron laughed again, "I've been here over a year now…there's still rumblings of McDreamy and something about the legend of Meredith and Derek."
"Oh God," Meredith rolled her eyes, "can we just concentrate on my babies."
"We can," Cameron smiled at her, "and I'm even going to let you spend a little more time with your babies. I trust you can figure out how this works," he joked. "Let me answer this call and I'll be right back."
"Derek," Meredith reached for his hand again when the doctor walked out. "They look healthy… right… they…look… Derek… their hands are really touching now," and the tears fell again, as the parents to be marveled at the two unexpected and tiny miracles before them, and shared priceless and treasured moments to remember.
"You are both doctors," Mike Cameron said when he walked back into the examining room, and Meredith voiced some additional concerns. "We've discussed the risks associated with a twin pregnancy, and I want to make it clear that I'm not expecting any complications in the weeks ahead. The only precaution is you do need to be prepared for the babies to be born early… how much earlier than 40 weeks… we don't know, but I'm fairly certain, based on my years of experience that we won't have to worry about that over the next five to six weeks…"
"Five to six weeks," Meredith, who was now sitting up, held on to Derek's hand, "but you think after that…"
"I think," Cameron stated, "we have a normal healthy twin pregnancy at this time…and I don't anticipate that we will need to be worried about any complications over that period of time, but, of course… that is provided everything continues as it has up to now…if anything changes, we will monitor that accordingly."
"Should we," Derek raised the question, "abstain at this point?"
"Unless Meredith's been experiencing any type of …"
"Nothing's changed," Meredith changed the subject; irrationally embarrassed by the topic of their sexual relationship. They had discussed this aspect at length the last time; whether orgasms caused contractions and a multitude of other sexual details Derek had discussed bluntly with the intent of ensuring they did nothing to harm her or the babies.
"Good," Cameron tried to hide a grin, remembering how his own wife had felt when she'd been carrying twins. "Enjoy the next two weeks…at 28 weeks you may feel differently about that, and we can discuss it again," and with that conversation, the appointment was brought to an end, and left Meredith alone to get dressed, and Derek waited, talking to the doctor before heading home for an evening alone.
"Uhmm…" Meredith smiled at him, "this is the best…I've had in weeks…"
"Too bad," Derek teased her, "you're talking about chocolate ice cream."
"We're not just talking chocolate," she took the last spoonful, and savored it. "It's dark chocolate and cheesecake with brownies from Mora's," she mentioned the Bainbridge shop selected as one of the top ten in the U.S.
"Who knew… chocolate would trump sex…"
"Derek," she placed the bowl aside on the kitchen counter and smiled at him, "nothing…" she smiled seductively, "trumps sex… with you…"
"You're trying to butter me up…" he smiled at her.
"That's not a very nice thing to say…"
"I know you…" he teased, "or as you've corrected me… our babies are guilty of making you prefer chocolate ice cream… instead of sex…" he nipped her lip playfully.
"I don't want chocolate now…" she batted her eyelashes at him.
Derek roared with laughter. "I take it… our children prefer more of the cheesecake with brownie."
"Yes," she laughed, and kissed him. "But… that will put your babies to sleep…and I'll want sex again," she smiled, and he leaned into her, kissed her till she (almost) forgot about the second bowl of ice cream.
"Uhmmm…I love when you…" his eyes twinkled, "wanna go again…"
"Ass," she laughed. "You love using that line…"
"It works," he winked at her.
"Yeah…" Meredith kissed him, again, both enjoying the unexpected time for intimacy, "it does…every time," she smiled, extending her hand to him. "Do you want to go upstairs?"
"Meredith," Derek turned to her, hours after they'd reached their bedroom, choosing his words carefully. "Are you sure you want ice cream…not something else…"
"It's not me," she said seriously. "It's the babies that are craving Mora's chocolate."
"It was too much to expect," Derek teased. "That my kids would crave healthy foods."
"Ice cream is healthy," she told him. "It's milk…and I'm feeding two babies Derek…not just one…like you told me," and they both laughed at the reference to his comment long ago.
"Hey," he teased her. "I'm not responsible for you being an over achiever. I said we could start with one baby…"
"Ass," she laughed at first and clumsily turned to him; then she lay on her side facing him, and became quiet.
"Hey," he cupped her face, caressing it gently. "Why so serious?"
"Lexie asked me," she bit her lower lip, "earlier…if I had any regrets."
"About what?"
She shrugged, paused and pondered. "Derek…do you… have any?"
"How can I?" he pressed his body close to hers. "I found the love of my life; we have a beautiful daughter… and two babies…healthy babies on the way…"
"The surgeries…the trial I messed up..."
"Meredith," he said softly. "You're the one that gave up…so many things…"
"I did not," she argued.
"You'd chosen," he said, "you wanted to be a general surgeon…but…you're not."
"Derek," she became sentimental. "When you asked…" she recalled the moment before his last surgery, the doubts he'd had; the reality facing them that perhaps he would never be a surgeon again.
"I asked you to sacrifice…" he said, "your choice…for mine…"
"You asked me," she felt one tear slide down her face, "if the surgery fails," she repeated, never forgetting the look on his face, the acceptance in his eyes, "if I can't operate again…would you consider…Meredith…will you consider…working with me…learning from me again…being my hands, if I can't operate…"
"You made that sacrifice for me," his voice cracked.
"The surgery didn't fail," she reached for his hand, kissed it lightly. "There was no sacrifice. I chose," she smiled, "at that moment, to work with my husband…the best teacher I'd ever had…and you helped me become a really good ...neurosurgeon."
"You…are extraordinary," he kissed her softly. "In everything you've become...as a wife, doctor, surgeon, sister, better with family than I am."
"It's all because of you," she sniffled.
"No, Meredith," he said proudly. "It's all because of you."
"You forgot… my favorite role…"
"Of course," he raised an eyebrow, and he met her gaze, "lover…"
"That too," she smiled seductively, her lips meeting his; the prelude to lovemaking. Slow, tender and gentle caresses, cautious as her pregnancy progressed, but, never diminishing the ultimate fulfillment of the ever present desire between them.
"Derek," Meredith said, as she placed his hand on her belly, their babies coming to life after their parents' lovemaking, "you forgot one of my two favorite roles…"
"Mommy…" he smiled; she's become an amazing mother since Zola came into their lives, and he had never fully forgiven himself for the night he'd made horrible accusations to her and walked out, unaware she'd taken Zola home. He could never make up for that, but he tried. When she became pregnant, though it had been her choice to try one more time, they had been shocked to find out she had conceived twins, but, she'd embraced the idea, and the look of vulnerability and motherly concern was always present when she spoke of their soon to be three children.
"Even," she smiled back, "if you had multiples in mind all along…"
"I did not," he protested. "Meredith…I meant it…I thought we'd try for one…"
"See how that went," she reminded him. "And before I knew it…we had Zola… and now two more…"
"Meredith," he snuggled closer to her, "I would have been happy…with one…it's another sacrifice you made… for me…"
"For us," her bossy tone surfaced. "It wasn't a sacrifice and you know it."
"I would have never asked…Zola…she could have been enough…for our family."
"Derek," she attempted to turn to face him, but both her children chose that moment to remind her there were indeed two of them, "oh wow…" she said instead, and moved his hand over to where the babies were kicking her.
"Mer," Derek said, "Meredith…" his hands became still. "Mer…they…" he swallowed past the lump in his throat.
"You felt them…" Meredith's held back tears, finally he felt them. "Derek…did you…"
"They kicked," Derek said in awe, "both of them…"
"Both of them," she said, and shifted positions, while she kept her hand over his, and was able to meet his gaze, see the sentimental tears, "letting Daddy know…they're here…"
"Probably," Derek swallowed past the lump in his throat. "Didn't like I said…just one…"
"I wonder," Meredith gauged his mood. "If one of these little ones will be a brooding boy…just like his dad?"
"I don't brood," he protested; the brooding look unmistakable.
"Really," she rolled her eyes and laughed; a sound that always warmed his heart.
"You're not being very nice," he teased her. "Especially…since you're bossy."
"Poor babies," she giggled, and entwined their hands.
"Poor parents," he laughed, "we already have one bossy little miss, who's got her mother's personality down pat…and now bossy…broody…"
"Zola is not bossy," she swatted at him playfully, "and our children will be perfect…"
"We're in so much trouble," he laughed. "Mer, they're going to walk all over us."
"Just be grateful," she smiled, and he instinctively knew to help her sit up to get comfortable, and massaged her back. "We didn't need fertility treatments… again…for months, or we might have ended up with the five chatty babies…all at once… and I would have asked all your sisters to move in…and take care of them …"
"No you wouldn't," he joked. "They'd drive us crazy."
"I like your sisters," she argued.
"You have to, they take your side most of the time."
"They do not."
"Seriously," he said.
"Just because Nancy thinks I'm right about…"
Derek's laughter was contagious, and they both ended with tears of laugher in their eyes.
"Did you ever imagine," Meredith said. "I'd be friends with Nancy!"
"Not when you first met," he reminisced. "But, I knew once they knew you…"
"They'd love me," she teased him.
"Mer…you have to admit…once you knew me."
"Oh God…" she rolled her eyes. "Little ones, don't listen to Daddy…he's cocky and…"
"Meredith," he said, in a more serious tone. "Really…no regrets? Even about my family?"
"Derek," Meredith said, "Nancy made it possible for us to have these babies…how can I ever regret that?"
"You won her over," he said proudly, "all of them, completely. After the accident... when I was being an idiot…brooding...not dealing well with the prospect of never operating again… when you called home…and asked for help."
"Two sisters came out," she said. Both reminisced about the day Nancy showed up at the hospital, a second sister in tow and demanded to know what the hell was wrong with him; either he believed that surviving had been enough or he was just plain full of crap. Nancy stayed two days; the other stayed two weeks, at the end of which Derek had the final surgery; Meredith embraced neurosurgery, again; and they had flight reservations confirmed to spend Christmas at home with the Shepherds.
Zola's first Christmas as a Shepherd was more than enough reason to celebrate. But, to Derek's amazement, his wife wanted their little girl to experience a true family Christmas. They missed Bailey's wedding, but, Meredith would never forget the joy on her baby's face when she played with her cousins, including, her niece, Laura, and the happiness on her face when she cuddled with Gamma as she watched the lights on the Christmas tree while listening, yet again, to what had become her favorite stories - The Night Before Christmas and Guess How Much I Love You.
It was during that Christmas visit, while Derek held her in the moonlit room, that she shocked her husband when she whispered. "Derek…let's make a baby…let's try…and give Zola a baby brother… or sister."
Derek was adamant he did not want her to take any risks; they'd already tried and the side effects were too serious to consider. Meredith knew Nancy was one of the best in her field and sought her professional advice and discussed the miscarriage. Her sister in law was stunned by the revelation. Meredith was equally stunned by Nancy's genuine compassion and support, and the request to review all her medical records, which was followed by a very optimistic assessment of her condition, and asked if she could share the records with a colleague whose specialty was high risk pregnancies.
Michael Cameron reviewed the files, consulted with other specialists, and given the years of friendship with Nancy and Kathleen offered to meet with Meredith and Derek before they returned to Seattle. Confident in his assessment after a thorough examination and expedited tests (all within 48 hours during the last week of the year), he offered a very different view than her Seattle doctor that had indicated another pregnancy had a high probability of another miscarriage. Fibroids, Cameron indicated, rarely interfered with pregnancy.
Months later, Derek was still unwilling to take risks with her health. Then, fate intervened; twice. Mark married Lexie, and she became pregnant, though a great deal of time was spent on bed rest given the surgeries that led to her existing limp.
Then, Michael Cameron finally accepted a job to move to Seattle from a private practice that had been after him for years. Meredith convinced Derek that they could at least talk to Cameron one more time. Meredith's relationship with Nancy grew closer as she once again sought her sister in law's advice, and finally, Derek agreed that Cameron's options were viable. Meredith underwent a simple laparoscopic myomectomy and removed the benign fibroids. Months after close monitoring of her condition and no regrowth fibroids detected, the doctor felt confident she could have a viable pregnancy. Within six months and two cycles of a different fertility drug, Meredith was pregnant.
The babies kicked again, from two different directions, and she gently massaged her belly, over the area where their babies were moving. "I think," she spoke softly, "they know better…that their Daddy loves them …and has been taking care of them…and their mommy since we found out about them," her gaze never left his, "even before…while we were hoping …that one day…we could have just one."
"Meredith," Derek said reverently, "you know…I love them…both…so much…how blessed I feel…how blessed, we are."
"They know," she said, as their babies kicked, softer this time, as their father's hand met their gentle kicks. "They've been hearing you tell them that for months," and their father did again, as his hand continued to caress her belly, and then, as he could feel their movements become less frequent, he followed his nightly ritual.
"I love you babies," and he kissed her pregnant belly, twice. "Daddy loves you both," and his reward was twofold, as two gentle kicks from two different directions pressed against his hand. "Mommy and I…and your big sister Zola…we love you so much and can't wait till it's time to meet you."
"They love you two," Meredith whispered, and felt his lips on hers. "But, never as much as their Mommy does," and she closed her eyes, content in her husband's protective and tender loving arms, and slept as the sun set over their land.
"Daddy," Zola said excitedly as bed time approached, and both she and her best friend tried every excuse to prolong it. "We gots to eat ice cweam...just like Mamma likes… cause Uncle Mark and Auntie Lexie they buys ice cweam at Mowa's… but Auntie Lexie tolds Uncle Mark…we can't eat the bwonie…one…cause that's only for Mamma…" and the story went on, as Derek smiled while he served exactly that flavor of ice cream to his pregnant wife, and placed it in front of her on the kitchen counter.
"Uhmmmmm…this is so good," Meredith savored the spoonful of cheesecake and brownies, "thank you…" she smiled, "now I just need radishes and sardines," and Derek gagged, but obliged, as he turned the portable phone over to his wife.
"Hi Zo-zo," Meredith smiled, "have you been a good girl for Auntie Lexie?"
"Si, Mama," Zola imitated her friend Sofia's pronunciation,"and we be good señoritas," and Meredith smiled as she heard her daughter's and Sofia's giggles, "that's what Uncle Mark tolds us."
"I'm very proud of you and Sofia," Meredith munched on a sardine, and Derek reached for his cel phone and took a picture, and smiled as he added a text message. "You're such big girls helping Auntie Lexie with your baby cousin."
"Mamma," Zola asked, "did you gets pictures of my baby in your tummy…and I gets to see it when I come home…cause of you and Daddy had to sleep cause of my baby he makes you get really tiwed…but not cause of you be fat Mamma."
"Yes," Meredith smiled, as her eyes misted, and she looked at Derek, "we got a picture of your baby…and you're going to see it when you come home tomorrow…" and she reached for Derek's hand, and he came around to hug her and kiss the top of her head, then he sat next to her, faced her and smiled, placing his hand on her belly.
"Good night, Zo," Derek spoke as Meredith hit the speaker key. "We love you."
"I love you Daddy," she had perfected the word love, to her parents delight, "and Mamma…and my baby… you give my baby a kiss Daddy cause I not there Daddy," and when he promised, she was content to go play for a few more minutes with as she said, her bestest fwiend and cousin; the first baby miracle that had become part of their lives.
"They kicked again," Derek smiled. "They like that new delicacy," he almost gagged.
"They're happy," she was emotional and teary eyed, "their big sister is going to see them…tomorrow," and she felt his arms around her, holding her tenderly.
"They are," he agreed, almost as sentimental. "She's going to love that there's two of them," and all that Meredith could do was nod as Derek kissed her, and said a silent prayer, a bit of forgotten faith restored, and often repeated since his family had flown to Seattle after the accident.
"Thank you," Derek's eyes remained closed as he hugged his wife while caressing her back, "for our second chance… for surviving…for Meredith in my life...for all she's grown," and he knew she had accepted that their babies were healthy. "For finally having faith that the babies can be just fine… that she'd ready to share with our little girl that she's going to have not one, but two babies to love for a lifetime."
A/N 11/4/12 – Can't post a link here, but source for the fibroid surgery/pregnancy information was found on the Mayo Clinic link under uterine fibroids treatments and drugs.
While editing the chapter, I went back to double check when Mer called the baby Zo-zo, and discovered, that Lexie appears to have called her, her favorite little niece; I'd already written the sentence/sentiment of her thinking of her as her other favorite little girl, and so, decided to go back and also add Lexie's actual reference on Grey's.
