A/N: Thanks to anyone who has reviewed/added to favourites/added to story alerts etc. Would love a few more reviews though, tell me what you're thinking! :D


With Or Without You

Chapter 4
~x~

7 months pregnant.

"Addison Montgomery" Addison said through her phone as she lay on her sofa after a long day.

"Hey, hey it's uh, Meredith" Meredith stuttered.

"Meredith, hi" Addison smiled.

"Sorry it's late um, I hope I'm not interrupting anything"

"No no, I'm just being lazy on my sofa, Sam's stuck in surgery, is everything ok?"

"Look uh, I was just wondering, I mean, you totally don't have to if it's weird but, I think, I think maybe Derek would've liked it because, you're the best and, well my OB-GYN creeps me out and, you don't so uh, would, would you come to Seattle and, deliver my baby?" Meredith asked warily.

"Of course I will" Addison beamed "Meredith I'd be honoured"

"You, you would?"

"Of course I would" Addison said softly "Who's your OB?"

"Dr Williams, he's, he's…."

"No need to explain" Addison laughed "I wouldn't want him delivery my baby either, would you be able to get hold of your records, have them sent over to me?"

"Yeah, I'll call the hospital and get someone to send them" Meredith smiled.

"And how has it all been going? Any problems?"

"Everything's been pretty normal I think" Meredith said as she rubbed her hand across her stomach "He's the right size, got a strong heart beat, kicks up a storm, usually when I'm trying to sleep, or when Mark talks to him, I think he likes his voice"

"Mark talks to him?" Addison said with a slight laugh.

"Yeah" Meredith laughed back "He said that talking to the baby is a good thing, which I know, and that he needs to start learning about Derek now, and the Yankees, which I'm not so keen on, but it's cute, he's so excited to be an Uncle"

"I'm sure he is" Addison smiled "And how are you feeling?"

"Good" Meredith said honestly "I've been in the house for a couple of weeks now, it's beautiful, we went on the original plans Derek made, but it's just, I keep looking out the window and I can see the trailer and, I keep expecting him to walk out of there with all his fishing stuff and go and sit out by the lake but, it feels good here, I just, I miss him so much Addison"

"I know" Addison said softly "We all do"

"Are you sure you're ok with coming out here?" Meredith asked.

"Meredith, I'm sure" Addison smiled "I told you before, anything you or the baby need, I'm here, I promise"

"Thank you" Meredith said tearfully "Oh god sorry it's these stupid hormones again" she sniffled "I had to have Mark help me put my shoes on last week and I cried for half an hour"

"Don't worry about it" Addison said with a slight laugh.

"Ok well, I should go, I'll get someone to send my files over for you"

"Ok" Addison smiled "Send everyone my love"

"I will" Meredith smiled "Speak to you soon Addison"

"Speak to you soon, bye Meredith"

"Bye" Meredith said before hanging up.

"Hey, who was that?" Mark asked as he walked into the living room.

"Jesus Mark" Meredith said jumping a little "When the hell did you get here?"

"Just now" Mark said with a slight laugh as he sat down "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you"

"It's ok" Meredith sighed "That was Addison, she's agreed to come out here to deliver the baby, she sends her love"

"Oh, cool" Mark said with a small smile "Told you she'd do it"

"I know" Meredith said dropping her head against his shoulder "D'you think, the baby he, d'you think he'll be like Derek?"

"Probably" Mark said softly "In some ways, I'm sure he'll look just like him, Shepherd genes are strong, all the kids look so much more like their Moms than their Dads and Derek looked just like his"

"What was his Dad like? I, I never really asked"

"He was great" Mark smiled "A lot like Derek, maybe a little less, aware of his looks" he smirked, Meredith let out a slight laugh "He was kind, he was a family man, and I mean, that was always weird for me because my Dad was anything but that, but he loved his family, he would've done anything for his kids, hell he, he died because he wouldn't give up the watch Carolyn gave him, I don't know if I would've done that, he was an amazing man, Derek missed him a lot, I, it's stupid but, I like to think that, maybe they're together now y'know?"

"That's not stupid" Meredith said quietly "I think, I think I might name the baby after him, after his Dad, d'you think, d'you think that's ok?"

"I think that's a great idea" Mark smiled "Christopher Grey-Shepherd"

"Christopher Grey-Shepherd" Meredith repeated "I love it, I should call Carolyn right?"

"I think she'd like that" Mark said softly "D'you want some food or anything?"

"No but some coffee would be great" Meredith said hopefully.

"Nice try" Mark laughed "How about some juice?"

"Fine" Meredith grumbled, Mark kissed the top of her head before heading into the kitchen.

~x~

2 weeks later.

"You look fat today" Cristina said bluntly as she walked into Meredith's house and dropped herself down onto the sofa, putting a shopping bag in between them.

"Thanks" Meredith said dryly "Really, thank you for that"

"Hey, I brought a present too" she said nudging the bag towards Meredith, Meredith peered into the bag curiously and pulled out a small blue and white striped onesie with the words 'Here Comes Trouble' printed in red on the front.

"Let's face it, any kid of yours is gonna be a handful" Cristina smirked.

"You actually went out and bought this?" Meredith said with a small smile.

"I figured I should buy the kid something" she shrugged.

"Oh Cristina" Meredith whispered tearfully.

"God don't start crying" Cristina groaned.

"I don't care" Meredith sniffled "Thank you, I know I haven't been all that fun lately"

"Yeah well, it's ok, I get that you're too fat to move now"

"Cristina" Meredith whined "Stop calling me fat"

"I'm kidding" Cristina said with a slight laugh "So, I thought I could stay over tonight and we could watch your Mom's surgery tapes, like old times, and eat crappy food"

"I'd like that" Meredith smiled "Mark's going to the store for me later so I could give him a list"

"He's here a lot lately"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing Mer, nothing" Cristina sighed "I'm just, pointing it out, he's never really been the, caring type, not like this anyway"

"He's doing it for Derek" Meredith said softly "He knows Derek wouldn't want me to be alone out here"

"You could've had roommates Mer, Lexie and Alex would've moved with you"

"I know they would have but I didn't want them to move here, this isn't a frat house, this is a home, my home, with room for guests to stay"

"I guess" Cristina sighed "Now come on, call Sloan, order food, I'll go and get the surgery tapes"

Meredith laughed a little and picked up her phone as Cristina headed off to find the tapes.

Chapter 5 to follow….