I'm sorry ! But the next chapter is finally here, so enjoy !

"So he knocked you up, huh?"

Meredith rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but let a smile slip while Mark let out a laugh. She knew he'd have something to say about it, but she had expected them at least to make their way around the corner before him saying anything. Derek, Natalie and the Chief were still within earshot.

"If you want to put it that way..."

Mark wrapped her quickly in his arms which caught Meredith slightly by surprise. "He's going to be a great dad," he said, and Meredith could see he was being completely serious.

She nodded with a smile. "I know."

There was a short silence as the two walked through the busier parts of the hospital. Gazes were all shifted on her, so they made their trip to the nurse's station as quick as possible and were soon in a deserted hallway towards their patient's room.

"So why did you not say anything?" Mark suddenly asked.

Meredith shrugged. "I don't know, honestly. I felt like things were going so great with Derek... I didn't want to tell him and then have him run."

Mark shook his head. "I realize why you didn't tell Derek... sort of. I was wondering why you didn't talk to me or Natalie."

Meredith looked up to him and stopped in front of their patient's door. Neither one of them opened it. So she decided to give him his answer.

"I was going to... I was going to give myself a few days, and then tell Natalie, and then I was going to tell you. But I didn't get those few days. I found out the day Derek showed up. That's when I told Carolyn... I told her I was pregnant and that Derek was the father. I didn't get the chance to really let it sink in that I was having his baby because I had to let the fact that Derek was here sink in first. And honestly, I think it's just sinking in now."

Mark nodded and opened the door, knowing this wasn't the end of their little conversation.

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

As they watched Meredith and Mark walk off, Derek couldn't help but reflect on how different Mark seemed. He seemed to be more of the Mark he was in their teenage years; full hearted, open minded, a flirt of course, but with restrictions. He had avoided battles he knew he didn't have a chance in, but had made mistakes. However, in his teen years, he had learnt from those mistakes. It seemed that he had gone back to learning from his more recent mistakes.

The friendship between Meredith and Mark had made him nervous at first. Well of course it had. He had just gotten out of a marriage that had fallen apart mostly because of Mark's actions. Well… Derek had finally admitted to himself that Mark had mostly just been the last straw in his relationship with Addie, but whatever the subtitle given to his former best friend, it had made him lose all confidence in his so called brother. So to watch the love of his life bond so easily with the man brought a fear to Derek's heart in the beginning. He wasn't about to lose her again.

But as the weeks had passed, he finally believed Meredith's words from that first night. Mark would never do something ever again to the women in Derek's life. Their relationship was more sibling like than anything else. And definitely more sibling like than it had been with his sisters, or at least the ones Mark had managed to get his hands on. With Meredith and Mark, nothing would ever happen. Derek was confident about that, a feeling he hadn't felt for a while.

"I need to get back to work," Natalie's voice finally broke through his thoughts. Derek nodded, as if indicating he too should get back to his job. But it seemed like his job would have to wait a little longer.

"Derek, I'd like to talk to you in my office first," Greg said as Natalie walked off. "If you don't mind."

Derek laughed. "The only chief who would ask his surgeons whether they minded talking to him in his office. Does that mean I can avoid this conversation?"

Derek could tell that his uncle hadn't really acknowledge the joking in his voice. He just stayed silent as Derek walked into the office behind him. "Greg, you know I was kidding right? I don't mind at all."

Greg finally looked up at him once they were alone and where no one could overhear their conversation. "I gave you the option because this has nothing to do with your job or me being chief Derek. This is family business."

Derek seemed slightly stunned. "Oh… okay…?" he answered slightly confused as he took a seat, following his uncle's example.

"She's an amazing surgeon Derek, she's great at her job, but she's also an even more incredible person."

Derek didn't know how to react. His boss was talking about his Meredith. And not only that, he referred to it as family business, as if Meredith was already part of the family, which technically, she pretty much was. This made Derek smile slightly.

"I know that," Derek said with a nod. "I don't need to be reminded."

Greg leaned forward towards Derek. "No but you need to be told that things are not going to be easy around here for her. You remember your internship and the hell of a ride it had been. Try pilling a relationship with your boss and a pregnancy on top of that."

Derek nodded slowly as he tried to imagine his internship being any more difficult than it had been. He hadn't thought he'd be able to make it through the year, and he had had a pretty normal internship. He couldn't even imagine how Meredith must feel.

"I want you to promise me Derek that you will be there for her no matter what."

Derek leaned back in his chair. He didn't even need to think about the promise he was about to make. It went without being said. "Greg, I am going to do everything I can possibly do to make things as easy as possible on Meredith, in and outside of work. I am committed to this relationship and I always will be. Even if that means making my life a living hell. As long as she's okay, then that's all that matters to me."

Greg nodded as he too leaned back in his chair. "Okay then." He paused as Derek nodded. "Now we need to talk about how things at the hospital are going to work."

Derek didn't understand. "What… what do you mean?"

"Derek… you need to realize that this relationship is going to affect your work life."

Derek nodded. "I know that… I guess. And if being with Meredith means that she needs to avoid Neuro at all costs and that we can't speak to each other at work, I will do it. But Meredith on the other hand…"

Greg laughed and Derek felt grateful for the expression on his face. "None of that nonsense Derek. I was going to say the quite opposite actually."

"You… what?"

Greg smiled. "I know what you're going through Derek. I went through the same thing with your aunt. You need to prove to your coworkers, and to hers mostly, that the two of you are real, that it's not just some fling as they all seem to believe."

Derek nodded. "I love her. I really do."

Greg smiled as he got up and walked around to Derek's side of the desk and patted him on the back. "I know that Derek. I can see it in both of your eyes."

"And I love our baby too. I'm about to finally be a father. I… I can't believe it…"

Derek waited for a response, and when he didn't get one, he turned around only to come face to face with the look of shook on his uncle's face.

"How… She's… The baby… The baby's yours?" he asked, completely taken aback. He had realized they had had history together, but he couldn't imagine that Meredith, who was now six weeks along, was pregnant with a Shepherd.

Derek nodded as a bright smile took over his features. "I hadn't even thought of the possibility until she told me straight out that I was the father. We… had an incident before she came to New York…"

Greg's confusion turned to utter joy within seconds as he took his nephew into his arms in a tight embrace. "Congrats son. I wish the best of luck for the both of you, and you have my support throughout it all."

Derek thanked him as he left the office, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. And then the realization hit him.

If his uncle, who knew in general about their past, hadn't put the pieces together, that Derek was the father of Meredith's baby, how long would it take their coworkers to figure it out once the truth was out?

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

"Mom!" Natalie exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Natalie had been assigned to the pit and wasn't too happy about it. She was supposed to be working with Dr Anderson, but since he had heard about how her intern was in a relationship with an attending, who happened to be her brother, he hadn't wanted anything to do with any of them. He was one of the oldest attendings at New York Pres, and he didn't like how things had changed, like for example, office relationships and he blamed Natalie for the fact that they were together. She had been outraged, but she had kept her mouth shut about it. He wasn't worth it. And also, Meredith didn't need the extra stress. So Natalie took the fall, happy she could do something to help her sister.

Sister. Natalie smiled as the simple word described what Meredith was to her. It didn't matter that they weren't related by blood, or had grown up together like Mark and Derek. It didn't even matter that she and Derek weren't married, and it wouldn't have even mattered if they hadn't of even been together. Meredith had become like a sister to her, and no matter what, the feeling would never change.

"Oh it was just a fender bender sweetheart. The medics on the scene wanted me to get checked out. Figured it couldn't do any harm and it gave me an excuse to come visit you guys." Carolyn playful tone brought Natalie back to the present.

"You sure you're okay?"

Carolyn nodded. "Just a few bumps and bruises. Apparently I do however need stitches on my arm. Glass shard."

Natalie looked at her mother in horror. "I thought you said it was just a fender bender? How did you manage to get glass in your arm?"

Carolyn laughed with a wave of her hand. "I visited your sister this morning. She was making lunch when she dropped a bowl. One of the shards bounced of off the floor and nicked me in the arm. I didn't think it was such a big deal. Wiped it up and put a bandage on it. But apparently-"

Natalie cut her off with a laugh. "I get it mom. Let me check it out."

She pulled off the bandage and assessed the cut. "Not too deep, or wide. It'll only need three or four stitches."

"I could do without," Carolyn said with a shrug. "Three or four stitches means that they're not all that necessary. There are plenty of other people here who are much worse off than me."

Natalie looked around the relatively quiet OR and back at her mother. "There's a man with a runny nose, some guy who stubbed his toe and a woman who thinks she's a freak because she has her period twice a month. I think a few stitches trumps all of their issues put together."

Carolyn sighed as she finally gave in. Natalie grabbed a suture kit and placed herself comfortably so that she could stitch up her mother's arm.

"So how has work been?"

Natalie let out a sigh. "Quite crappy if you must know. I've got bosses who are assholes, surgeries that are being stolen out from underneath of me and an intern who has absolutely no respect for anyone at all."

Carolyn cringed slightly at the pressure from the first stitch. "Oh dear. I hope the intern you speak so little of isn't Meredith…"

Natalie let out a laugh. "Ha! I'd say the complete opposite. It's because of the whole Meredith and Derek situation that she's gotten to the point where she is. She insulted Derek and still expected to be on his service."

Carolyn shook her head. "It's jealousy. She's envious of Meredith because not only is Meredith an incredible surgeon, she's got a wonderful man at her sides and a pretty good looking one if I might say so myself," she finished with a wink and a laugh.

"Mom!" Natalie screeched. "He's your son!"

"I know, I know. But I raised a pretty good bunch of kids, didn't I?"

Natalie smirked as she finished her last stitch. "You did. And you have no idea how grateful we all are to have had you as a mother."

"You say it as if I'm no longer your mother." Carolyn frowned.

Natalie shook her head. "No it's nothing like that. It's just that you said you had raised us well, so I was talking about the days where we depended on you to show us right from wrong, the days where you truly mothered us. Not that you don't mother us anymore. Just not the way you used to."

Carolyn nodded with a smile as she took her daughter into her arms. "I know. But it does look like I'll be doing some more mothering for a while."

Natalie nodded as she pulled away. "Meredith could definitely use your motherly ways. She hasn't had that experience and she's worried it'll make her a bad mother."

"She doesn't know what she's talking about."

Natalie laughed. "I can definitely see a wonderful mother in Meredith."

Carolyn nodded. "And speaking of the mom-to-be…"

Natalie turned around and noticed Mark and Meredith enter the ER, laughing at something or other. When they noticed the two Shepherd women looking their way, they exchanged a glance before approaching.

"Carolyn!" Mark boomed as he brought his mom into a tight embrace. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Carolyn and Natalie exchanged glances before they went into the explanation of how Carolyn had ended up in the ER.

"Well just as long as you're okay," Mark said. "I wouldn't want this little monster's grandmother to get hurt," he said as he taped Meredith's stomach lightly and Meredith swatted at his arm lightly as she and Natalie let out a laugh.

Carolyn just smiled at her children. They were all like children to her, and no matter what, like Natalie, nothing could ever change the way she felt about Meredith being a part of the family. She now had a place among the Shepherd's and she always would. She was an honorary Shepherd. Permanently.

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

"I still can't believe we're working together again," Michael said with a laugh.

Derek nodded. "I know what you mean. I think the last time we were in the same OR, we were fourth year resident. Now, you're head of peds, and I'm head of neuro… time flies, doesn't it?

Michael nodded as they entered the scrub room. They had just finished up their surgery on a 17 year old who was having seizures. It had been successful, and the teen would be able to finally live his life to the fullest. Derek felt like as if that's how it finally was for him too; he could finally live his life to the fullest.

"So…" Michael started hesitantly. "I happened to overhear some interesting news this morning."

"Oh yeah?"

He nodded hesitantly. "Something about Dr Grey being… well…"

Derek looked over at him curiously. "And where did you hear this?"

"If you guys are trying to keep it on the down low, you should really tell your sister to find more private areas to inform your partner in crime. She and Mark were discussing it when I walked by their table at lunch today. No one else was around, well no one that would have been listening. And I promise I won't say anything."

Derek nodded slowly. "Thank you."

Neither one of them said anything else. They finished scrubbing out in silence, and both went their ways after a quick goodbye.

Derek was shocked to find Meredith sitting with his mother in the cafeteria. With curiosity and confusion in his eyes, he approached the two and took a seat beside Meredith.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" he asked as Carolyn shook her head and waved her hand around.

"Oh I was in a little fender bender this morning. Insisted I come to the hospital. I figured I might as well stick around for a little while."

Meredith laughed. "Yeah, your mother has been telling me some of your baby stories Derek. I think I should be afraid for this little guy."

She placed her hand subtly on her stomach and Derek saw the twinkle in her eye. Just that morning she wasn't sure she was ready for this. But suddenly, it was like she had complete confidence in herself. He curiously gazed between her and his mother, and when Carolyn noticed his piercing gaze, she smiled at Meredith.

"We had some girl talk time," she explained.

Derek nodded slowly, and then realized they were sitting in a moderately busy cafeteria. Carolyn and Meredith both noticed as he looked around.

"We were outside Derek," Meredith said as she rested her hand on his lap. "I want to keep this quiet a little longer too."

Derek did in fact want to keep it quiet for a little while longer, not because he didn't want people to know he had impregnated an intern, no not at all. He wanted the world to know Meredith was carrying his baby, but he knew Meredith couldn't handle all of that right now. People had already caught on to the fact that he and Meredith were an item. She didn't need the extra stress of the stares and whispers. And Derek respected that.

"So what did you guys talk about?" he asked.

Meredith blushed slightly as Carolyn gave her a quick wink. "I told you Derek. It was girl talk."

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

It had in fact been quite the girl talk. Carolyn and Natalie had insisted in chatting with Meredith as soon as Carolyn had been discharged. They had decided that the bench outside in the back of the hospital was the quietest and most private place they could find.

"So what is this about?" Meredith asked worriedly. Natalie and Carolyn kept exchanging quick glances and this made Meredith very nervous.

"Meredith, we need to talk to you…" Natalie said as the three of them took a seat, Meredith in the middle.

Meredith stiffened at Natalie's words. "I've heard those words. Usually uttered by guys though. It's the breakup line. Oh… no…" she got to her feet quickly and starting pacing, shaking her head. "I knew things were too good to last. Everything seemed to perfect… I knew… It was bound to happen… and I'm the home wrecker and the slutty intern and now you guys regret having accepted me anyway, and Derek… he knows this is a mistake and… Oh god… I'm pregnant… and I don't have… I need to go..." Meredith was about to turn around but Natalie caught her wrist.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Natalie said with a slight giggle. "That is not at all what we were going to say."

Meredith seemed dumbstruck as Natalie forced her down back into her seat. "It's… it's not?"

Carolyn shook her head as she wiped away the tears Meredith has started to shed, tears she hadn't even realized herself had fallen. "Not at all Meredith. You have no idea just how much we love you. Both of you."

Meredith's breath hitched her throat. "You… love me?"

Natalie took in Meredith's broken expression, and knew right away that this strong beautiful woman before her hadn't heard those words very often. "Of course we do Meredith. And not just the two of us. Mark, Amy, Cory, Julian… even Greg. And of course Derek."

Meredith burst into tears. Carolyn rubbed her back reassuringly.

"Meredith hun, what's wrong?"

Meredith shook her head as she wiped her tears. "I… nobody's ever told me they loved me."

They both seemed shocked. "No... Nobody?" Natalie asked in disbelief.

"Well… Derek… but I figured it was just the spur of the moment. I didn't… I didn't let myself believe him. I just couldn't."

"Well believe it Meredith. We're not getting rid of you. Ever. So deal with it," Natalie said with a laugh.

"So… what is this about then?"

Natalie and Carolyn exchanged glances again, but this time Meredith didn't worry as much.

"We've heard you've been having… doubts…" Carolyn started.

Meredith shied away slightly.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of Meredith," Natalie insisted. "You're an incredibly strong woman, but when it comes to this certain aspect of life, we know you haven't had the greatest role model."

"That's why we're here one hundred percent for you, to help you through it all." Carolyn smiled as she rested her hand on Meredith's knee.

"We've both been through this, five times to be exact," Natalie said with a laugh, "and now it's your turn."

"And Derek will be there for you too throughout it all. You've got a family now Meredith."

Meredith shook with sobs. "A family…" she mumbled.

"And it just keeps growing," Natalie added as she rested her hand on Meredith's stomach.

"I…" Meredith was speechless. She didn't know how to respond. "Thank you."

Carolyn shook her head with a laugh. "How many times do I need to tell you Meredith that thanks are not necessary? Isn't that what family is for?"

Meredith nodded quietly, still not believing what she was hearing.

"This baby is going to have a wonderful family," Natalie said. "A grandmother who will love him or her absolutely to death, aunts and uncles who will fight over him or her, a father who's never going to lose that new twinkle in his eye and a mother… oh, there is no way to describe the amazing mother this baby is going to have. Meredith, you have absolutely nothing to worry about."

Natalie brought her into her arms, and when she finally let go, Carolyn did the same. They sat in a comfortable silence until Carolyn started to giggle. When both Meredith and Natalie gave her a questioning glance, she smiled.

"Derek was right. Your rambling is adorable."

A little fluff in there for everyone (: I hope you all liked it and haven't given up yet. I finished writing this story so all I have left to do is update the chapters. You guys have no idea how excited I am to have finished writing it ! My first completed fanfiction ! This said, I'm going to update a lot faster since there is nothing really holding me back. But reviews would be handy in getting even faster updates (: Just saying...