A/N: Sorry for the unexpected hiatus. Easter week has been busy and filled with lots of different activities that didn't leave much room for writing. I'll try to update at least weekly, but I can't promise anything. You guys feel free to bug me when it's been too long between updates, sometimes it works!

Chapter 10

A whole lot of charting, very little sleep: not the night shift Derek has dreamed of.

He's been living with tiredness for the past two months, and even he can recognize that this is a completely different kind of tiredness. He's been constantly experiencing some of the highest highs and the lowest lows of a lot of people, and it's catching up with him. He also knows he doesn't want to be the next intern having a nervous breakdown and leaving the program.

"Daddy!"

The reason why he has to keep going and become a resident comes barreling towards him, a backpack floundering from his shoulders as his little legs carry him through the aisle. David stops in front of him and catches his breath, his eyes shining with alertness.

"David, how did you get here?" Derek smiles, listening to his son giggle.

"Nana took me. She's slow, Daddy."

"Oh, here she comes," he smiles, seeing his mother walk towards them, shaking her head. "Are you too excited for slow?" he asks, and David nods eagerly.

"First day of school, Daddy, of course I'm excited," he shrugs. "I'm a big boy, now."

"You are," he sighs, memories of his newborn son flashing through his mind. Derek knows he's just as scared as he was the very first time he held him, and right now he's flying just as blindly as he was when his mother dropped David into his care.

"Daddy," he murmurs, sobering up as his mother comes closer and stands behind him. "Are you sure I will have fun?"

"I'm sure. You have to listen to your teacher and do what she says, but kindergarten is fun. You know, I'm in school too, now, so believe me, it is fun," he grins, hoping he can be a good liar.

He remembers being teased and being the butt of stupid jokes before he became friends with Mark, and he knows David will have it even worse, but he can't discourage the boy even before starting. He'll take the brunt of it when the time will come.

"Do I have to go to school if I want to be a firefighter?"

Derek frowns. This one is new, but he'll go with it. "Yes. Firefighters need to be smart and know all about fires and chemicals and building structures before being firefighters."

"Okay," he sighs. "And I'll learn how to read and write and count numbers?"

"You will," Derek smiles, watching as he dances on his heels.

"Nana, did you like school?"

"I met your Pops when I was in school," she winks, her eyes shining. Derek wishes he'd find a love that will make his eyes twinkle even forty years after they've met.

David is still pondering her answer when his eyes light up too, and his lips curl up in a smile. "Meredith!" he shouts, and Derek turns around as well.

Meredith is walking out in street clothes, looking tired and slightly dejected. Her lips curl up in a smile when she spots David, her whole demeanor relaxing. Her aura makes Derek's shoulders loosen too.

"David, hey, good morning! You're here early," she smiles, and David squares his shoulders and puffs out what little chest he has.

"Did you like school?" His son blurts, a flicker of worry in his eyes.

"School was fun. I learned a lot of new things there, I loved that."

"Daddy said I will have fun there."

"You will. You will meet new friends and play games with them. You will have a great time," she reassures, even though the way her eyes dull for a second makes him wonder if she didn't have a great time in school either. "Is it your first day?" she smiles, looking up to meet Derek's eyes in confirmation. He nods slightly, unable to speak when she looks at him so intensely.

"It is," David hums. "I need to be brave."

"You are brave," his mother tells him.

"You are. One of the bravest boys I've ever met," Meredith adds, and David relaxes his shoulders at her words.

"Can brave boys hold hands?" David whispers, looking down at his brand new trainers.

Meredith smiles so sweetly he's melting as well. "Of course," she grins, "I'm sure Daddy will be happy to hold your hand," she says, looking up at him.

Derek reaches out for David's hand, and he feels the boy cling to him, his cold fingers gripping his tightly. "Better?" Derek asks, giving the smaller hand a firm squeeze.

"Meredith?" David looks up, his tone cautious. "Can you hold my hand too?" Meredith puts out her palm, and David grabs it tightly, his breathing evening out. "You and Daddy are the bravest people I know," David admits.

"Why is that?" she asks, a smile on her lips.

"Cause you cut into brains," he nods. "Nana is brave too, but not as brave as you."

Derek hears his mother muffle a laugh, then mutter: "I've been replaced." Meredith laughs too.

"Can you come to school with me?" David asks sweetly, holding onto Meredith a little tighter.

"I can't come inside with you," Meredith smiles. "You'll have to be brave."

"What about the door? Daddy said he'll take me to the door."

Derek has no idea what to do. She's looking at him, a flicker of fear in her eyes, and yet she's still holding onto David and faking a smile. "Maybe she's busy, David," he tries to deflect his intentions and give her an out.

"I'm not," she murmurs. "I...I can come," she sighs, her voice shaking a little.

"Good," David nods seriously, still looking tense.

"Let's go, then, or we will be late," his mother says, eyeing him and Meredith suspiciously. Derek gives her his best confused look, because he has no idea what is going on either. He knows he'll be grilled about her later.

It feels weird to walk out of the hospital with Meredith Grey, his son between them, crushing their hands with his tight hold. The school he picked for him is right around the corner from the hospital, since he figured the closer it is the better, and he has never been more grateful for the fact that they're walking there. He needs the distraction.

David is asking Meredith all kinds of questions as they get to the school, and she answers every single one, a laugh or a giggle escaping their lips more than once.

"Derek, are you seeing Meredith?" His mother sneaks up on him and startles him, whispering in his ear.

"I'm not," he replies quickly. "I have no idea what's going on, or why David is so fascinated with her."

"David has a crush on her, just like you had a crush on your English teacher in first grade. That was adorable, by the way."

"What? I didn't…" he protests, his eyes wide, and he knows he's probably blushing.

"Derek, do you have a crush on her, too?"

"No," he replies firmly, too firmly, and his mother reads right through his lie. Crap. "Definitely not."

She ends the conversation with a hum that means they are far from done with the prodding, and he's not looking forward to the moment she will bring up the issue again.

David freezes in front of the school gate, halting their walk.

"This is the moment to be brave, David," Meredith tells him, as his mother smiles down at him.

"Daddy, you promised you'd take me into my classroom."

"I did," he smiles at his son, "but Nana and Meredith can't come with us."

"Okay," David murmurs, sounding small and tiny, and not at all ready for independence.

"I want to hear all about school the next time we'll see each other, okay?" Meredith smiles, crouching down in front of him and brushing an invisible lint from the boy's t-shirt.

"Okay," he says, nodding.

She raises on her feet again, then steps beside his mother. David waves goodbye to both of them, sighing loudly as they disappear inside. His hand is crushing his the closer they get to his classroom.

They have been there together the morning before, they stayed for three hours to get to know the place and the teacher, but today it's his first day on his own, and Derek is not sure he can let him go either.

"I'll have fun?" David asks again, gulping.

"You will. You will have tons of stories for me when you get home."

"And my teacher is nice."

"She is. Do you remember Mrs. Culver?"

"I do. She is nice and she smiles a lot."

"She does. She will take good care of you," he reassures, because the teacher really seemed understanding of his problems. He picked this school because they seemed the most skilled to deal with David's SPD, and he's glad it's the school closest to the hospital too. He knows David's school stay will never be perfect, but he's at least starting out with the best deck of cards.

David seems a little intimidated by the older kids wandering around, but Derek knows it will be just a matter of time before he gets used to it. He has to. The OT told him it was the best idea for him to go to school and socialize, learn how to deal with his issues by himself now that he's growing up. It will be a hard few months of adjustment, but they'll find a way.

They reach the door and David's eyes widen at all the other kids already in the room. The class is half filled when they enter, and Mrs. Culver greets them with a warm hello, motioning for David to pick a desk.

David looks undecided for a moment, before choosing one in the middle of the row on the farthest left. Derek helps him settle his backpack and sighs when David sits down. He looks like a grown boy, now.

"I'll be brave," he murmurs.

"You will," Derek repeats, feeling his eyes well up with happy tears. "You are the bravest boy I have ever met."

"I love you, Daddy," he says, and Derek can't help himself, he plants a kiss on the top of his head. David's arms go around his neck and they share a burrito hug.

When Derek lets go, David looks almost okay. "I love you too, D-Man. Have fun today, and I'll be ready to hear all about it when I pick you up later."

"I'm ready, Daddy," he smiles.

"I know you are," Derek replies, standing up from the crouching position he was, then he leaves the classroom, saying goodbye to the teacher, then waving at David.

He takes deep breaths as he walks back outside, unsure of what he's feeling exactly. Right out of the gate, his mother is still talking with Meredith, the two women smiling, even though Meredith looks awkward and uncomfortable.

"How was he?" his mother asks right away, her scrutinizing eyes ready to pick up on his every eventual lie.

"Brave," Derek smiles. "He'll be okay. It won't be easy, but he'll figure it out."

"Good," his mother nods.

"I'm sorry he dragged you here, Dr. Grey," he says, knowing he should at least attempt an apology.

"I had the worst night shift ever, Shepherd, I'm glad he made my day start off a little better."

"He usually does that," Derek grins, and Meredith's cheeks turn pink. "Do you...coffee? Breakfast?" he stammers, knowing he sounds ridiculous. "To pay you back."

"Breakfast better not involve muesli, Derek," his mother smirks, and he rolls his eyes, his turn to blush.

"Pancakes? French toasts? There's a diner on the next block," he offers, not knowing if he's being too forward.

"I know, that's where Dr. Sloan asks his interns to grab his coffee."

"What?" His mother's eyes widen. "Oh, I have to talk to that boy…"

Meredith giggles, then yawns. "Maybe next time? I'm about to drop."

"Okay," he sighs, not even sure why he feels disappointed. His body is about to fail him too, so maybe it's better this way. "I'm sorry you had a bad night, Dr. Grey."

"They happen. Hope yours was better."

"Not really," he chuckles. "I'll see you around?"

"I have an interesting case coming in tomorrow, Dr. Shepherd. Corpus callosotomy. Study up," she grins, then says goodbye to his mother and disappears.

"Wow," his mother breathes out, and he knows he's blushing again.

"Ma, drop it. She's my boss."

"I wasn't even eighteen when your dad proposed to me," his mother smirks, "I know all about inappropriate, that's all I'm saying."

"Ma…"

"Just...think about it."

She doesn't say anything more, but he's scared that she's right. That it's not just a simple boss-subordinate infatuation for him and that he should explore something more with her. He remembers their kiss, how her body fit with his, how natural it looks for them to be a pretend family, and he knows he can't go there. He can't let his guard down and risk David getting hurt.

He wants to explore their connection, the calm feeling that washes over him every time they share a room, or the admiration he has for her, and yet, he knows he can't. David comes first. He always will.

Not even his infatuation for Meredith Grey will make him regret David. And he knows that if it's meant to be like his mother is insinuating, they'll find a way to work it out. Just like his parents did.

A/N: So, David is growing up, and Carolyn knows a bit too much for Derek's comfort. What will happen? Stay tuned to find out!