A/N: Not a doctor sorry so information here may be incorrect!

Chapter 3

Derek watched his wife as she propped the chart on her swollen stomach and inspected those notes thoroughly. A piece of hair fluttered past her eyes and she flicked it back, all the while concentrating on the notes in front.

She placed one hand under her stomach and winced momentarily. Her face straightened again and was back to reading the chart.

Derek briskly walked up behind her and wrapped his hands around her expanding stomach.

"Hey there stranger…" Meredith said smiling, inhaling his scent.

"I missed you." he whispered rubbing small circles into her stomach.

"You saw me an hour ago. At lunch." Meredith laughed and flipped the chart shut, turning around to look him in the eye.

"So? I missed you all the same." Derek pouted stroking her face lightly.

Meredith rolled her eyes and gave a small chuckle. "Give me a break" she mumbled.

"Ah you know you love it." Derek grinned cheekily

"You're so full of it" Meredith laughed and suddenly doubled over wincing.

"Are you okay" Derek snapped into serious, protective mode.

"Yeah. Fine. Just kicked really hard." Meredith said standing up straight again. "Seriously, there's a soccer player in the making in there."

"Are you sure? I mean, we can get Addison to check it out?" Derek asked, concern etched all across his face.

"I'm fine Derek. Seriously. I can look after myself and the baby. You can stop smothering me"

"I'm just worried…."

"There's nothing to be worried about. Just your kid being a nuisance… much like you…"

"Hey! That was uncalled for!" Derek took Meredith's hands and kissed her knuckles lightly.

"I'm going to check on a patient. See you later" Derek kissed Meredith like they were going to do it for the rest of their lives and walked off.

Meredith winced again. Something's not right she thought.

"Dr. Montgomery, Addison." Meredith called after the red-head walking down the hallways with her heels clicking on the hard surface.

"Meredith. Is everything okay?" Addison turned back and walked towards Meredith, a chart firmly placed in her arms.

"Yeah… Oh" Meredith winced again and held her stomach.

"Something's wrong Addison."

"It's probably nothing Meredith, but let's get you checked out. Did you want me to page Derek?" Addison led Meredith down to an exam room.

"No, no, please don't. I don't want to worry him." Meredith obediently followed Addison.

"Okay Meredith. But he is only worried about you."

"I know, but there are other sick people, more worse than me that he has to worry about. I don't want to trouble him until I have to." Meredith pleaded

"Okay. Lie down Meredith."

Meredith lay on the hard examining table, hands wringing together in nervousness. It's nothing, probably Braxton-Hicks or something.

"Okay Meredith, not to alarm you. But your cervix is dilated. You're going into preterm labour. I'm going to give you an IV of Magnesium Sulfate to stop the contractions and we'll see from there. Do you want me to page Derek?"

"No. It's fine." Meredith whispered tears threatening to fall.

"Meredith it's okay to ask for help" Addison placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I know. I asked you for help didn't I. No, I'll be fine. I don't want to bother him. He's in surgery anyway. Actually I think I'm supposed to be helping him. I have to go…" Meredith shook her head in denial and moved to get up.

"Meredith. Lie back down. You're baby is going to be okay. I'll try my best okay? Now you have to try to stay calm so we don't add any stress." Addison laughed inwardly at the irony of the situation. She was calming her ex-husband's new wife. They had maintained a civilised relationship and oddly enough Meredith had asked her to be her OB/GYN.

Meredith breathed in deeply. "Okay." she murmured.

Addison sensed the fear in her voice, just like any mother would feel in the situation.

"I'm going to get the nurse to start the IV and I'll be right back."

Meredith nodded tears now lacing her eyes.

Addison slipped out of the room and told her nurse to administer the medicine.

"Page Dr. Shepherd too."

A/N: Okay. Omgosh. I spent so long researching Preterm labour before writing this. So I hope it is more or less correct… The main idea is: there are complications with Meredith's pregnancy.

natzbadfairy- Hehe thanks for the review.

marrymemilo- Aw… you make me blush! And happy. I hope you liked this chapter too! It's a little dramatic… sorry for the wait. I've had more inspiration for my other stories- check those out too :) Thanks for reviewing!

GreyRENThead- MerDer fluff makes me very happy also. It controls my mood for the rest of the week. Like when it was all sad on Grey's between Mer and Der, I was so sad all week, but then when I saw them get back together… was all happy! Thanks for reviewing!

supershipper- Aw… thanks… Sorry not too fluffy here. A bit at the start though! Thanks for reviewing!

Happy Reading, Flick me a review.