-1Meredith sat on the edge of the bath, sipping the coffee as she waited for the white stick to tell her that she was pregnant or not. Inside she liked the idea of being able to go to Joes, spend three and four days in the hospital at a time. But most of all, she wanted a baby. A family with Derek. Thatcher's outburst seven months previous had spurred her on, made the motherly feelings come to the surface. She never wanted what she and her mother had.

She wanted a relationship with her child or children. She knew Derek would never be Thatcher and that he would be an amazing Dad. Trying to convince him, the night Thatcher had arrived that having a baby was a good idea took time and persuasion but she knew he wanted it too. What he didn't want was the pain and disappointment that came with the trying. He knew it would make them or break them.

Meredith looked at her watch, sipping the coffee cup and emptying the now cold coffee down the sink. She sat the pink mug on the counter and tied her hair back up. She glanced down at the stick, not able to tell what it was showing. Every month she had bought a new brand, knowing that if she knew how one worked and could tell from a glance, it would kill her finding something that important out from a glance.

Pulling Derek's grey jumper down over the top of her pyjama bottoms, she lifted the box from the bin. Lifting the stick she compared what the box was saying, the stick in front of her holding her destiny. Another time of pain or heaven. Her eyes jumped back and forward between the two, the smile growing each time. Her heart started pounding against her chest, Meredith laughing gently. She walked numbly out the bathroom, Derek looking at her from the bed.

'Meredith?' He stood up in front of Meredith, Meredith looking between the stick and him.

'What?' she turned the stick towards him, the two blue lines bright on the white background.

'Mere?'

'It's positive,'

'What?' Derek took the box and the stick off of her, comparing the two images. Her eyes sparkled, Derek picking her up and spinning her around, her face lit up. She wrapped her body around his, Derek sitting down on the bed.

'I…I can't believe this is happening…now,'

'We have been trying,'

'I know…usually it takes longer Mere,'

'Well, we're lucky. And were going to make up for lost time, I promise,'


Meredith pulled her scrub top on, her hand stopping over her stomach. She felt her body tingle at the idea that there was a person growing inside her. Derek caught her, a slight wave of envy coming over him that he wasn't' beside her.

'Dr Shepherd,' Derek turned and smiled at Bailey, Bailey shaking her head at him.

'You got a good reason for standing staring at Dr Shepherd?' Derek nodded his head, Bailey looking at the two of them.

'I'll see you later Dr Bailey,'

'Shep, if something's wrong or if you've screwed up again, I will kill you for not telling me and giving me previous warning,'

'Trust me Bailey, this is an amazing thing,' bailey raised her eyebrows.

'Just…lets just say Miranda…luck is definitely on our side,'

'Shepherd, I don't like it when you talk in cryptic…means something is wrong,'

'Nothings wrong Miranda…nothing at all,' Meredith looked around suddenly, worried that someone had seen her, figured out her secret. She laughed as Derek raised his eyebrows at her, the smile on his face from ear to ear.

'Bailey's figure somthings going on,'

'Derek you can never fool Miranda Bailey, I know that better than anyone,'

'True. Listen…I want you to,'

'don't you dare say take things easy or I will have to kick your ass,'

'I was going to say, before you rudely interrupted me,' Meredith handed Derek the chart smiling, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

'You should get everyone round to the house tonight, well phone in dinner,'

'Like the way we used to,'

'Yeah,'

'You just want to tell them all,' Derek kissed Meredith gently before walking away down the hall.

'Is there anything wrong with that?' Derek turned and started walking backwards.

'Not at all Doctor Shepherd,'


Meredith sat on the floor, leaning back against Derek, watching as yet another debate ensued between Christina and Izzie over wither Cardio was better than Plastics.

'I'm not saying that Cardio is crap but I'm saying that there has to be a much more satisfying feeling coming from helping tiny people,'

'But when you do Cardio Barbie…you get to help all different kinds of people, not just tiny people,' Derek leaned down into Meredith's ear.

'How much has Christina had to drink?'

'I have no idea but I'm pretty sure it's double what she usually drinks,' Derek chuckled, Izzie and Christina throwing him a death glare.

'I wasn't laughing at you guys, nope…not you guys,'

'Just because both our specialities kicks your ass doesn't mean to say you have to laugh about it,' Derek stood up, Meredith falling back against the couch.

'I am not getting into an argument with you over which speciality is the best, cause I already know that neuro is,' Christina and Izzie instantly lifted the pillows they were sitting on, throwing them at Derek. Meredith covered her mouth, stopping herself from laughing but failing miserably.

'So, dark and twisty one, why have you called us all here?' Meredith looked at Alex.

'Why would there be a reason?'

'Last time you called us here Meredith, you and Mc Dreamy were getting hitched,'

'Not true, last time was when Izzie and Denny were pregnant,'

'Hey, as much as I like you Grey, I am not the pregnant one, she is,' Izzie blushed, Denny brushing his hand over her slight bump.

'Do you have any idea what you've started? Now they're going to be all loved up and babyish because she's pregnant…nice one Meredith,' Meredith looked at Derek who handed her a glass of water. She shook her head, Derek looking at her questioningly. He pulled her to her feet, Meredith shaking her head and walking through to the kitchen.

'Is mere ok?' Derek shrugged his shoulders at Alex.

'What were you guys talking about?'

'Denny and Izzie being all soppy cause she's pregnant,' Derek closed his eyes and followed Meredith. She stood flicking through the delivery leaflet.

'Mere,'

'Look, just not tonight ok. Christina's took drunk and Izzie and Denny are all loved up. Callie and George aren't here yet,'

'We'll tell them after dinner when some of the alcohol in Christina's system has been absorbed and she isn't threatening to kick my ass,'

'She Won't kick your ass,' Meredith wrapped her arms around Derek's neck, holding onto him.

'You didn't see the way she was looking at me,' Meredith nodded, kissing Derek gently.

'God you two are like a pair of rabbits,' Meredith looked to the side, Christina falling up the stairs.

'YOUSHOULDPUTABATHROOMDOWNSTAIRSINTHISPLACE,'

'OR YOU COULD JUST NOT GET AS DRUNK AND NEED TO PEE AS MUCH,'

'MEREDITHSHUTUPWITHTHELOGICALTHINKINGWILLYOU…IREALLYNEEDTOFINDTHEBATHROOM,'

'YOU'VE BEEN HERE SO MANY TIMES AND YOU CAN'T FIND THE BATHROOM?'

'I'MDRUNK…GIVEMESYMPATHY,'

'NOPE,' everyone looked at Meredith as she as Derek came back into the living room.

'So seriously why did you guys bring us all here?' Meredith nodded.

'After dinner Alex, we'll talk after dinner,'

Denny was drying the plates, watching Meredith out the side of his eye as she washed them.

'You seem different,'

'What?'

'Meredith, look at me,' she looked at Denny, her face seeming to glow.

'when did you find out?' Meredith faltered

'Find out what?'

'That you were pregnant?' Meredith laughed.

'You now me better than I thought Denny. This morning,' Denny hugged Meredith.

'Congratulations,'

'Thank you…for everything Denny…I mean everything. You didn't judge me…it means a lot,'

'Hey, like I said, I leave everything to the big man up the stairs,'