A/N: Okay everyone, I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while but it's the start of the school holidays today so I'm going to try my best to get a few more updates and hopefully a little more regularly. This was done on Word pad 'cause dad needs to install word onto our computer. Sorry for any spelling mistakes, Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Mom
"Hello Meredith, lovely to meet you. Derek has told me so much about you," Carolyn shepherd gushed and shook Meredith's hand.
"Has he now?" Mer replied, raising her eyebrows at Derek.
"Oh, on the rare occasion on which he calls, you're all he talks about!" Carolyn replied, laughing at the red patches slowly seeping onto her son's cheeks. "Meredith this, Meredith that, I barely get a word in edgewise," Carolyn continued, tormenting Derek, watching him get all embarrassed, avoiding the grins and glances from his fiance` and mother.
"You know, when he was younger--" Carolyn started, only to be cut off by Derek.
"You know what? Let's all have a cup of coffee!" He chimed, tugging them into the kitchen, momentarily stopping the horror stories.
*+*+*+*
Mer strapped Matthew into his highchair as they all sat down to dinner the following evening. George and Callie, Cristina, Burke and Jaearah, Alex, Meredith and Derek were seated at the dining table when Carolyn and Izzie exited the kitchen, brandishing various exquisite dishes. They laid out the food and took their seats, Izzie beside Alex and Carolyn at the head of the table, across from her son.
*+*+*+*
Cristina and Burke left straight after dinner, using the excuse that is was past Jaearah's bedtime. George and Callie snuck away not long after, as they had no real reason to stay. Izzie was helping Carolyn with the washing up while Alex, Derek and Meredith watched TV in the living room, Matthew happily perched on his mother's lap.
"Alex, are you ready to go?" Izzie asked from the doorway.
"Yep," Alex said in reply, getting up from the couch.
Carolyn joined Izzie at the door, wiping her hands on a dish cloth. "Thanks for having us you guys," Izzie told Meredith and Derek, "Lovely to meet you, Carolyn, See you soon," Izie said and she and Alex left with a wave goodbye.
Derek and Meredith were watching some comedy on TV. Matthew was almost fast asleep on Meredith's shoulder.
"I think I'm gonna put this little guy down for the night," She whispered to Derek and Carolyn, who had since joined them in the living room.
Meredith carefully made her way up the stairs and Carolyn followed her. Mer carefully laid her son down in his crib, lifting up the barrier and clicking it into position. She gently leaned on the side of the cot, being careful not to wake her son. He looked so peaceful. He looked just like his father.
"He's beautiful," Carolyn whispered from where she was, leaning on the door frame of Matthew's room.
"I know," Mer whispered. Carolyn made her way over to the crib, leaning on the rail as Meredith was.
"You know, I didn't want to keep him when I first found out I was pregnant," Meredith confessed.
"Really?" Carolyn said, slightly shocked.
Meredith nodded. "I was so scared that I was going to turn into my mother, managing my career and a baby at the same time. And Derek was with Addison, I didn't want to ruin anything for him. But I had this patient the day I found out I was pregnant. She and her husband had been trying to have a baby for so long. I could feel this little life growing inside of me and all of a sudden, I wouldn't give that up for the world," Meredith whispered, gently running the back of her hand over Matthew's cheek and trailing her fingers over his soft curls.
"I know the feeling," Carolyn agreed.
Derek stood by the door, admiring the scene before him. The three people he cared about most in the same room and getting to know one another. It doesn't get better than this.
A/N: Okay, so there's another chapter. Please review and I'll try to get another update up soonish.
