Richard turned back to Derek . "What are your intentions?"

"Excuse me?" Derek asked.

"What are your intentions with my daughter?" Richard asked again.

"Honestly, I didn't expect her father to be my new boss." Derek sighed, "but I was going to ask for your consent for me to ask her for her hand in marriage." he told Richard warily.

"You what?" Mark asked.

"I love her, and I want to marry her." Derek answered.

"This has nothing to do with the pregnancy, we've only just found out. I intended to ask when you told me I had a position here." Derek justified.

Mark glared at him in shock.

Richard studied Derek, quite taken back at his confession. "I can't believe you guys have been seeing each other over a year and you didn't know who her family was."

Derek groaned. "Meredith is pretty guarded, she didn't tell me a lot about her family. All she said was that she came from a family of doctors."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Richard called out for the 

person to enter.

Addison stuck her head in "Mer's woken up. She's been asking for you." She told Richard.

Richard nodded. "Mark, Derek, stay here. I will be back." he told them before he stood up. "I expect you guys to still be in one piece."

gagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagaga

Addie and Richard walked together back to his office. "Do you want me to come in?" she asked him.

"I think we will be ok." Richard told her.

Addie lent in and gave Richard a kiss on the cheek. "Don't be too hard on her dad, I think she's really scared."

"Scared about what?" Richard asked.

"About being a mother, or more importantly, like her mother."

Richard sighed on hearing this.

"I guess that would explain a lot. Thanks Addie." Richard forced a smile.

gagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagaga



On entering his office he almost broke down. Meredith was curled up on the couch holding the family photo. It was the last photo that had been taken of all of them together.

Richard walked in and sat down next to her. "Mer" he said quietly as he pulled her onto his lap.

"Daddy" she said quietly.

Richard took the photo from her and put it down on the couch next to him. "It's ok baby" he told her as she turned into him and sobbed.

"Daddy" she cried again.

"Shhh... Mer its ok I'm here, Daddy is here." he soothed her.

"Don't ever leave me." she whispered.

Richards grip tightened on her, and held her closer. "I'm not going anywhere." he told her.

Meredith's sobs slowly steadied. "Promise?" she asked.

"Promise" Richard replied.

"I don't know if I'm ready to be a mum" she confessed.

"It's ok Mer" Richard comforted her. "Your allowed to be scared" he continued to rub her back and soothe her. "but you need to remember 

that you are not your mother."

Meredith pulled back from Richards chest. Richard used his thumb to wipe away her tears. "I miss her" she whispered.

"I miss her too." Richard told her.

Richard kissed Meredith on top of her head.

"She's gone because of me." Meredith sobbed.

"No, she's gone because she was selfish." Richard told her.

Meredith lent back into Richards embrace. "Derek doesn't know" she told him

"About your mum?" Richard asked

Meredith shook her head. "all of it" she whispered.

Richard sat there quietly. "Why haven't you told him?" Richard asked warily.

"I don't want him to leave me too..."

"Mer sweeties, I don't think he's going anywhere." Richard reassured her. "from how he spoke earlier, I doubt he plans to go anywhere unless you ask him to."



Meredith sighed.

"Now about the baby" he started.

Richard looked down on Meredith. "I was going to tell you daddy. I just didn't know how. You didn't even know I was seeing anyone and I love Derek. I really do. but I'm scared because what if he leaves me. What if our baggage is too much. What if I have this baby and he doesn't really want it or what if he is only staying with me because of it." she finished.

"Sweetie, you ramble too much." Richard chuckled. "You also worry too much. I understand your scared , and I'm also going to tell you that you've just asked a lot of what ifs. So I'm only going to suggest one thing." Richard offered, "You really need to let Derek know how you feel Mer. Let him in."

Meredith sighed. "but" she began.

"No buts, " Richard cute her off. "It's not fair on Derek and it's not fair on you. You need to open up to him."

Meredith nodded, "ok daddy"

"Right, now baby, I think we need to talk to Derek and your brothers. May I suggest your brothers first." Richard decided. "They have a lot of questions. I will get Addie to mediate while I finish up with Derek."

Meredith again nodded. Richard placed Meredith back down on the 

couch. "Mark is in the conference room. I'll page Addie to take you. When you get there send Derek up to see me. I'll arrange for Alex to meet you there."

"Ok" she whispered.