Alright, here is another chapter folks. Thanks again for reading. I have spring break now so I will be writing like crazy this week. Enjoy, and as always, please review.
PS. I took a suggestion someone gave me in a review and used it, so suggestions are always welcome. If this person is reading, here is more Gracie and Derek time.
"Daddy, mommy told me that Santa comes into the fireplace," Gracie announced to Derek as Derek and Gracie walked into the dentist together. Derek had taken off the rest of the day for their appointment, plus it would be good bonding time. Meredith was at work while Chris and Lillian were in daycare. Derek would have taken them too, but they were asleep when Derek went to sign them out. Meredith offered it to just to be a daddy daughter bonding time, and said she would get them later when her shift was over.
Christmas was right around the corner, it was getting colder and colder out. The hospital was even showing signs of Christmas, with decorations hanging in places. "Yes, honey he does he gives out presents to the good boys and girls," Derek responded carefully.
Gracie nodded but looked at her father as if he were silly. "Isn't it bad to come into peoples houses without asking?" Gracie asked.
"Yes, normally. But Santa, is an exception, he is welcome, because he brings kids happiness," Derek told her.
Gracie seemed happy with the conclusion they had come to and changed the subject. "Daddy, I am wearing the outfit Aunt Lexie gave me for my birthday!" Gracie said. Derek looked at his daughter and laughed. Her curly blonde hair was in careful braids, she wore red pea coat with dark jeans and ballerina flats. Gracie is so into fashion, when they went shopping she insisted on picking out her own clothes.
The dentist was not exactly something Gracie enjoyed, but Derek forced her into the chair and held her hand while the dentist did his job. "Common sweetie, won't take that long," Derek encouraged her.
After an x-ray and an apparently extremely painful fluoride treatment later Gracie jumped out of the chair and for the door as soon as the dentist said that they were done. "No cavities, no cavities!" she was saying happily.
"Not so fast, I have to get my teeth checked, it's daddy's turn," Derek told her. Gracie turned around and walked over to Derek who was now sitting in the patient's chair. Gracie's expression was soft, and her face so much like Meredith's except for the eyes. She sat down in the plastic chair Derek was just sitting in and scooted closer.
"Don't worry daddy, I will be right here. Squeeze my hand if it hurts," Gracie said sweetly as she took his hand. Her tiny hand wrapped around three of Derek's fingers.
Derek was amazed at his daughter. "Thank you sweetheart," Derek replied and leaned over to kiss her head. "Don't worry, I can handle a little pain." Getting shot and recovering was a lot of pain, a dentist exam was nothing. Of course innocent Gracie knew nothing more than the pain of a knee scrape or a paper cut or being at the dentist, and hopefully she would never find out what real pain feels like.
A half hour later Gracie and Derek walked out of the dentist. Gracie was bouncing with each step; she was excited to tell Meredith that she was cavity free. "Mommy will be so happy!" Gracie said happily.
"That's why you have got to brush your teeth honey," Derek told her. "Now, what do you want to do?" Derek asked her. He had the rest of the day off.
Gracie shrugged. "I think we should get Christmas gifts!" she exclaimed.
Derek shrugged and buckled her up in the back of his car. "You know honey, that's not a bad idea," Derek told her.
"Yeah! I can get mommy, Lily, and Chris something!" Gracie said. Just like that Derek took off towards the mall, it was a good opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done. Seeing as he did not have another day off till Christmas.
The mall was crowded for a Thursday; Derek had not been there much before. Derek held onto Gracie's hand and navigated through people. "I want to get mommy something pretty," Gracie said.
"Hmm. Like what?" Derek asked her.
"A shiny necklace!" Gracie said as she pulled Derek towards the jewelry store they were about to pass. Meredith was not a big jewelry wearing person, but Gracie pulled him forward.
After an hour in a jewelry store Gracie had picked out a silver necklace with a small diamond heart attached to it. Derek just hoped that Meredith would like it, and wear it.
Grace and Derek were walking past stores, Derek was thinking about what to get Chris and Lillian. They were walking past an ice cream store when Gracie gasped. "DADDY! Can I plleaasee get some ice cream?" Gracie asked tugging his arms.
It was going to ruin her dinner, Derek thought, but then he looked down at her again. Gracie bounced up and down with her hands together, her big blue eyes pleading him, and just like that he caved. His kids had him wrapped around his finger. "Fine," Derek said giving in.
They got their ice cream and within minutes Grace had it all over her face and clothes. "Gracie, you're a mess, come here," Derek said laughing as he whipped her face with a napkin.
"Daddy, it was so good!" Gracie said happily. "Now, we need to get Lillian and Chris a gift!" she said seriously.
"Okay, how about we go to the toy store?" Derek asked as his daughters face lit up.
"Yes! Let's go," Grace replied.
The toy store was crowded to say the least. Full of stay at home moms with their kids scrambling to get presents. Or people going up and down isles not knowing what to get. Derek took Gracie's hand as they moved past people towards the princess isle, the isle that Lillian adored.
"Daddy! Can we get her this? Please?" Gracie asked as she held up a purple tutu. It looked like something Lillian would adore.
"Sure, let's pick out a few other things too, I mean it is Christmas after all," Derek told her. And together, they picked out loads of things that just screamed Lillian. They even picked out a tea set, along with a new baby doll. Lillian was in love with baby dolls, she had one named Rachel that she took everywhere.
"Okay, daddy now what about Chris?" Gracie asked.
Chris was quiet and a small genius, he also loved the outdoors. "Awe, daddy can we get one of those?" Gracie said as she pointed to a Barbie car, a motorized one for kids.
"Not now honey, maybe if you ask Santa," Derek told his daughter. She just nodded and moved on to show Derek something else.
In the end they bought Chris a bunch of blocks, some books, a push scooter that he would love, trucks, toy cars, and a mini golf set that Derek loved. It was a little tike's one, in hope one day they could go golfing together; Chris could be a good little golfer.
"Did we get everything?" Derek asked his daughter who yawned.
"Yes daddy, I hope they like their presents," Gracie said.
"I am sure they will, because we worked so hard to find them," Derek replied as they paid and left the store.
Derek could tell that his daughter was exhausted, it was hard to make Gracie tired too, and she was always full of energy. So just as soon as Derek buckled her into her car seat she fell asleep. Derek checked the time, it was already five. Meredith, Lillian, and Chris will surely be home by now, so Derek headed home.
When he pulled up into the garage, and just as he figured Meredith's Jeep was there. Derek looked back at his daughter who looked so peaceful; she was snoring lightly, just like Meredith. Derek carefully lifted her from her car seat and carried her inside.
As soon as he closed the door Derek saw Chris crawling towards him mumbling something. "Hey buddy," Derek greeted him. Then Meredith came speeding down the stairs with Lillian who was wearing just a pull-up and her hair wet.
"There they are, she must have been tired. How was the dentist?" Meredith asked Derek as she set down Lillian who ran towards Derek and hugged his leg.
"Daddy, I misses you," Lillian said sweetly. "Is my sissy asleep?" she asked putting her finger to her lips signaling everyone to be quiet.
"Yeah, Gracie is tired; I am going to put her in her bed. Then Lillian you can tell me all about your day," Derek told her kindly.
"Daddy I am going to help you," Lily said following him down the hallway and up the stairs. Leaving Meredith with Chris, who was now sucking on his pacifier in Meredith's arms.
Derek laid Gracie in her bed, and covered her with her favorite Ariel blanket. Derek kissed her forehead and then Lillian leaned over and did the same thing. "When you wake up, we need to play house," Lily whispered to her as if she could hear.
Derek and Lillian made their way downstairs. "Now tell me how your day was princess," Derek told her.
Lillian looked at him seriously. "Well daddy, in daycare we watched a movie and then played. Then we took a nap, and when I woke up we played with paints! And when mommy came to pick me up I was all messy," Lily told him.
Meredith walked in with Chris on her hip and rolled her eyes. "Honey, it was in your hair and all over your clothes," Meredith said.
"I sorry mamma, but it was fun. Daddy, we need to get some paints. Then after that we came home and mommy made me take a bath then Christopher broke out of the gate," Lily told him.
Derek looked at Meredith who nodded. "I don't know he was upstairs with us and somehow he got it open and crawled down the steps. Lillian was in the bath, luckily he was not hurt," Meredith said a little ashamed.
"Oh it's not your fault Mer, he is just adventurous," Derek said smiling at his son.
"In other words, we need a new baby gate," Meredith told him as she looked at her son.
Later that night Derek was making dinner while Lillian was his 'assistant' and handed him the ingredients. Chris was in his walker, bouncing excitedly. Meredith was studying a new surgery technique in the office. "Daddy, sorry I feel asleep," Gracie said as she came into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.
"Oh, it's alright Grace, don't worry about it," Derek told he as he took her into a hug.
"Gracie, can we play house?" Lillian asked he sister hopeful.
Gracie laughed. "Of course!" she said as they both ran off in the direction of Lillian's room.
Derek laughed and turned to Chris who was looking at his father intently, smiling. "Dada," was all he said.
Derek smiled and picked up his son. "Well looks like it's you and me cooking dinner tonight buddy. Now, do you care to tell me how you escaped the baby gate today?" Derek asked his son knowing he would not answer. Instead Chris just gave him a hug and leaned his head on Derek's shoulder. "I love you too Christopher, just no more breaking out of baby gates."