Chapter 10

"Meredith, let's go!" David shouted as he picked up his backpack.

"You don't have to shout, sweetie."

"Sorry," he looked at her and apologized. They went inside the car and Merdith waited for him to buckle up before driving away.

"How are you feeling?"

"About what?"

"Derek leaving," she snuck a glance at him and looked back at the road

"That was two days ago and I don't really care," he murmured as he looked out the window, turning away from Meredith.

"Would you like to go to New York sometime?"

"Let's not," he shook his head and sadly looked at her. He couldn't bear another heartache. It was more intense for him. His brain analyzes the situation too much, making the pain greater. "I don't want to see him again."

"Davey..."

"We're better off," he cut her off.

"You're disappointed."

"I survived 7 years without a father, I can survive the rest without him."

"Sweetie," Meredith looked at her son sadly. "You have the attitude of a 40 year old man. Have you ever thought that's because you were forced to be the man of the house too early? Maybe spending some time with Derek would be good for you."

"I could spend time with Uncle Alex or Uncle George."

"Are you sure you do not want to go to New York? You know I'm going to LA for that three-day conference this weekend. You're Aunt Izzie already promised to look after you while I'm gone. But if you want, I could just drop you off at New York."

"Am I going to stay with Uncle Mark if I do?"

"Maybe," Meredith nodded.

"And we're not required to see Derek?"

"Well, aren't you suppose to go there to visit him?"

"I told you, I don't want to see him anymore."

"He wants to see you, Davey."

"And I don't."

--- --- ---

"So what's up with the kid," Alex asked Meredith as he looked at David sitting down on one of the chairs in the waiting area.

"He's got his heart broken," Meredith sighed as she looked at her son. "He doesn't want anything to do with Derek."

"He really is a smart kid," Alex murmured.

"Alex!" Meredith turned towards him.

"C'mon, Mer, you know Shepherd, he likes breaking hearts," Alex told her. "He's already broken yours, he's already broken David's. Don't wait for him to come back and break it all over again. If David doesn't want anything to do with him, I say, let him. It's his life."

"He's seven! He doesn't know what life is all about. I want him to have the chance to have a father."

"He already has a lot of men around him that acts as his father, Mer."

"I know, Alex!"

"Then why are you still intent on having him accept Derek?"

"Cos' he's his father," Meredith spoke honestly. "And I could at least said I made them have a shot at having a relationship."

"You want me to talk to him?"

"Would you do that, please?"

"Sure," Alex nodded.

--- --- ---

"He's agreed to going to New York but only to stay with Mark," Alex announced as he returned from talking with David.

"I guess that's something," Meredith took into the consideration that she too needed to see Mark.

"You planning on actually bringing him there to see Derek?"

"No," Meredith shook her head. "I'm just going to drop him off at Mark's. I have a conference in LA, three days. And I need to talk to Mark too, anyway. I just wish he'd answer my calls. He's been avoiding me."

"Oh yeah," Alex nodded with a small teasing smile. "The whole not showing up at Joe's thing."

"How did you know that?" Meredith looked at him with surprise and suspicion.

"Joe talks a lot, Mer, you have to be careful where you do your rendezvous," Alex told her, not losing the teasing smile. "So, does this mean you did decide to try it out with him?"

"I did," Meredith nodded. "But he left."

"Joe told me Mark waited but he needed to catch his flight. You were late."

"I know," Meredith did not need reminding of her being late. "He's been avoiding me and rejecting my calls."

"He probably thinks you already chose McDreamy."

"You think?" Meredith's eyes went wide in realization.

"Probably," Alex shrugged.

"I really need to talk to him."

"You really do," Alex nodded and with a cocky grin added, "Cos' you have to get laid, Mer. It's about time!"

"Shut up, Alex!" Meredith gasped as she playfully hit him on the arm.

"What? It's true!" Alex called out to her as he walked away.

--- --- ---

Next chapter, McSteamy's definitely coming!

And someone's arriving into the story next chapter too! (don't kill me. any guesses, though?)