Thanks to all who are still reading. To those of you that leave comments, because of you, I'm trying to wrap this without rushing it along too much, though in reality this was supposed to be finished several chapters ago. Last night, when this chapter reached 12,000 I realized it needed to be split in two chapters. I'm finishing the rest today, and will edit and post what will be the last chapter (22) later in the week.
Have a safe Memorial Day weekend…let us pause for a moment in honor of all those whose lives we honor today.
Heartbreaking Reverberations – Chapter 21
"Mer," Derek smiled in anticipation of her reaction, and his mouth and lips traced the path of a well traveled journey, "come on…" his tongue made contact with her skin, licking then lingering on the swell of her breast, "you want to say yes…" his reward was a soft moan, and then when his mouth found her breast, her response delighted him, and he smiled again; thankful the sensitivity of the first trimester was behind them.
"Oh…" another moan, "yes…" she said, "yes…I'll do it…"
"You will," he stopped suddenly, "you will…really…you'll come…"
"If you stop now," she said breathlessly, "you'll go alone…"
Stated and blissfully fulfilled, she lay in his arms as he nuzzled her neck, his hands caressing the length of her naked body. "Mer," he had a smile on his face, "I got your favorite color…"
"Shepherd," she turned to face him, and looked at him seriously. "I agreed to go, but if you think for one second, I'm going to wear that ridiculously small bikini…and let everyone on the beach make fun of me while I look like a fat pregnant beached whale…"
"I think you'll look beautiful, your body is amazing…and you're barely showing."
"I'll have stretch marks and you'll think it was ridiculous that I agreed to wear a bikini, like those so called celebrities that think the public wants to see them at the beach showing off their pregnant bellies…and," he tried not to laugh at her ramble, "why do you think women think they look like beached whales," she challenged, "because some insensitive husband probably joked about it…and…"
"I'd never do that… Meredith…I can't wait for you to be really showing…Mer…to see that our baby is growing and you're both healthy, and if there are stretch marks, I won't care…not when we're going to get to hold our daughter…"
"Or son…" she corrected him, and in her eyes he saw reflected the depth of her happiness at the idea of holding their child.
"Derek," she leaned into him, "you really mean all that. Don't you? You don't care how my body may change after the baby…and all the side effects…"
"I don't care…all I care about is you being healthy…having an easy pregnancy…"
Meredith rolled her eyes, "no more roller coasters…you're hoping," she teased.
"I love rides…" his eyes were twinkling, "any kind of ride with you," he added suggestively.
"I love you," she said. "And I like all sorts of rides…with you too," she smiled; "in fact…" she raised an eyebrow, as she always did when sex was forthcoming.
"Dr. Grey…" his lips teased hers, "are you suggesting…you'd like another ride…tonight…"
"I may…" she kissed him hard, "after…you bring the ice cream," but they both forgot about that until much later in the night.
"I already arranged for the time off," Derek lay on his side smiling at her, his fingers gently caressing her now visible baby bump. "Mer… think of it…one week…just the two of us…"
"As long," she teased, "as you're not expecting forty eight uninterrupted hours of…"
"What…" he murmured, "you…you don't want…"
Meredith's melodious laughter warmed his heart. "Shepherd…" she cupped his face, "you have to get a sense of humor. If you think for one second…I'm going to let you get away without living up to forty eight uninterrupted hours …of sex…you're dreaming…"
"You're a tease, Meredith Grey…" he said as she kissed him quickly, giggling.
"You've never minded that before," she raised an eyebrow playfully.
"You've never threatened to withhold sex…"
"Derek," she met his gaze, "would you even believe me…if I did?"
"Well…" he said, "it's hard to say…lately…"
"Ok…" she rolled her eyes at him, "you can't count the times I'm a hormonal basket case…I mean…under normal circumstances, do you really think…"
"No," he laughed, "absolutely not…"
"Ok then," she smiled at him, "as long as we have that clear."
"Mer…" he smiled, drawing her close to him, "thank you…I really wanted us to do this…once the baby comes, it will be so much harder…"
"Derek…" she kissed him softly, "you don't expect me to read that book do you?"
"Only if you want to," he told her, "I figured you'd have a lot of questions…so the easiest way to tell you where you'd be getting a lot of use of that swimwear was to show you… we have a long trip ahead of us…there may be some things that you want to do…and I want to make sure we do whatever you want. This time off is for you, to make sure you relax…get some rest."
"Is that," she joked, "why you had the fishing trips already marked on several pages?"
"I did not," he said, kissing the top of her head. "That was Mark…"
"Mark knows?"
"I told you, we went shopping."
"So…you did this, all of it today?"
"I started planning it a couple weeks ago," he told her, "after you last doctor's visit, once we knew everything was ok with you and the baby. I really want us to go away…so I talked to Cameron and he told me there should be no reason you can't travel, but we both agreed we'd wait till your sonogram before making any firm plans."
"That was this morning," Meredith told him.
"I know," he said, "but, I'd looked into it already."
"So…" she said, "you went out and bought a travel book on the Bahamas, a ridiculously small bathing suit…and…"
"Mer," Derek stopped her, "it's from the same place I got your pillows…they had to do a special order and Alice told me…"
"Alice," Meredith stared at him, "you're on first name basis with the sales staff…and special order cause you probably told her I was fat…and wouldn't fit into…"
"You are not fat. The special order was the color. Alice is the owner," Derek told her, "and she was there when I went in the first time and was a great help… we should go there when it's time for you to get maternity clothes, she's …"
"Derek," Meredith whatever, "how old is this woman…did you do your typical leaning and smiling and tilting the head?"
"Meredith," he smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her, "you must know, you're the only woman that inspires all of that…"
"You did not answer my question…how old is she?"
"In her thirties…" he said.
"You're flirting with her," Meredith reacted, "you're just going in there to flirt with her…pretending you want to get things…"
He silenced her quickly, thoroughly, with a kiss that left no doubts she was the only woman he wanted or cared about.
"You can't just…"
"Yes," he kissed her again, "I can…shut you up with a kiss…especially when…"
"I was going to say," she told him, taking him off guard again, "you can't just keep going in there and…"
"She's six months pregnant, with twins…" he smirked, "happy now?"
"Maybe," she rolled her eyes at him. "I guess she saw a sucker a mile away…"
"You're calling me…names…in front of my princess," he teased her.
"Derek," she smiled coyly, "you should know by now…when the roller coaster ride's about to take a plunge…"
"Maybe," he caressed her face, "I need to start calling Rob…"
"Ass…" she whispered, before circling his neck with her arms and kissed him.
"Mer…you really don't like these," he said picking up the discarded one piece bathing suit. "I had them get it in your favorite color…and the other one…in black…and…"
"Derek," she spoke quietly, "how can you possibly want to see me wearing a bikini…with my tummy just huge…"
"Your tummy is not huge…and it's all baby. Mer, that's all I see …and you don't have to wear anything if you don't want…"
"Derek," Meredith glared at him, "you booked us at a nude beach…"
He roared with laughter, "no…I did not…we have a private swimming pool…"
"We do…" she said. "Derek…where are we staying?" she asked, and he began to tell her of his plans and when he saw she was getting tired, baby induced though it was, he told her he'd give her the website for her to look at and make up her mind which type of rooms she wanted.
"You know Mer…" he teased her as his hands roamed the curves of her body as he spooned her, "the way you reacted…if anybody had heard or seen the look on your face they'd think I had given you a very risqué book…proposing very illicit…"
"Good thing they didn't then," she giggled, "we can leave that…for when I'm not pregnant," she said, and they both laughed as he hugged her closer to him.
"Meredith…thank you," he said as he kissed shoulder, and she detected the emotion in his voice.
"For what?" she turned to him and kissed him tenderly.
"Saying yes…to our trip…to this time together…the two of us only, before the baby, trusting that I wouldn't ask you to do anything that could harm you or the baby..."
"I know that," she caressed his face gently, "but…don't get mad at me…I want to talk to Dr. Cameron…get an idea what I can expect the next few weeks…while we're traveling."
"I'll go with you…"
"I do want you there," she told him.
"I love you Mer…" he said, and before his body molded hers, spooning her as was their customary sleep position, she'd almost fallen asleep.
"I love you Derek…" she brought his hand to her abdomen, "we both do."
A week later, Cristina sat on Meredith's bed and scrolled through the laptop looking at her friend's very belated honeymoon destination. "What are you complaining about? Mer…the man has the money to do this…and you already agreed to go, why not just enjoy it?"
"Cristina," Meredith groaned, "that's not the point…I know he has the money, but…he got me bathing suits Cristina…and by the time we get there in three weeks I'll be huge, you can already see how much I've grown from last week," she rested her hand on her abdomen, "and he tells me I'm beautiful and he loves seeing how the baby is growing, but…" she burst into tears.
"Mer…" Cristina said, still not used to her friend's hormonal ups and downs, "Derek loves you…and he wouldn't lie to you. He was really kind of sensitive about it, that tankini top says it has a flared torso that allows for the belly expanding…and I'm sure he really means it Mer…you can tell when he looks at you…and has been caressing your flat stomach for weeks and he gets this smile on his face now…the last couple weeks when you can really tell there's a baby there…"
Meredith cried harder.
"Mer…" Cristina put the laptop aside, "what's wrong…is he being an ass and you don't want to tell me…because if he is, you know that we'll make sure…"
"No," Meredith wiped away her tears, "he's being wonderful…"
"Then why are you crying?"
"Because," she sniffled, "he's wonderful and you're rambling…and being nice and sensitive…and saying nice things about him and for so long you didn't like him or trust him..."
"He loves you," Cristina told her. "I don't doubt that, not for a long time."
"Cristina," the sentimental tears started again.
"Ok…Meredith," Cristina told her, "you have to stop this…it can't be good for the baby…all this crying," she was typically uncomfortable with all the tears, "my nephew…"
"Your…" Meredith hiccupped, "nephew…you're calling him …"
"He is," Cristina told her. "My person's baby is my nephew…or niece."
"I'm sorry…" Meredith told her, "all this crying…I'm tired…and my feet hurt from standing all day…and …Derek's not home…and he usually rubs my back…and feet…and…I miss him…and I know you hate the crying and I can't help it…and Derek knows just what to bring me…even before I know what I'm craving…"
"Well," Cristina said, "if you stop crying…I won't rub your feet, but I would bring you ice cream," and both friends were a bit sentimental, uncharacteristically so for Cristina, right before when Derek walked in and found both women sniffling.
Meredith wiped away her tears, "I love you Cristina Yang…"
"I love you, Meredith Grey…" she said and reached out to hug her.
"Hey," Derek said from the door, holding a bowl of ice cream and a glass of Cristina's favorite poison, "do I need to come back?"
"No," Meredith looked up and smiled, "join us…"
"It's a good thing it's you Shepherd," Cristina smirked, "if we said that to Sloan…you know what he'd be thinking," and both friends laughed, as Derek walked over to sit by his wife, handing her the bowl and Cristina the glass.
"Thank you," Cristina told him taking a gulp of the liquor.
"She really meant to say," Meredith told him, "she was about to kill me…"
"I was not," Cristina said, "but…Derek…you may want a drink of your own. Hormones on overload tonight and please stop spending money on her. If she doesn't want to go on the trip…Owen and I will take it…hell, you gave Izzie your wedding and look what she did. We'll take the honeymoon…and you better believe were not going anywhere, we'll be back in a week and help you deal with Mer's…roller coaster."
"I didn't say I didn't want to go on the trip," Meredith contradicted as she savored the chocolate ice cream, "only that you're spending too much on this…Derek…we can stay in a regular room, not spend one of our kids' half semester college tuition…"
"Are you kidding," Cristina said, "it's worth two years of some universities…"
"Cristina," Derek said, "you're not helping…"
"Oh…right…" she took another drink from her glass. "I have to get going anyway…but keep in mind…Owen and I will gladly accept that overpriced three bedroom villa…"
"Bye Cristina," Derek chuckled as his wife and friend talked for a few more minutes and then he slipped in bed beside her and laid his head right above her baby bump as his hands caressed their baby.
"Did you have dinner?" Meredith asked him, running her fingers through his hair.
"I did," he'd raised her shirt and his fingers softly made contact with her skin, "in between surgeries. Did you?"
"Cristina brought Chinese," Meredith told him.
"Hey princess," Derek smiled as he leaned in to kiss his wife's belly, "you're very consistent…you're still liking Chinese food, which your Mommy used to hate…and I guess you're going to love roller coasters when you get older…"
"It's not safe," Meredith said, "you hear all the horror stories about them derailing…and don't you even think for one minute Derek…I'm going to let you or the baby go on one of those things…"
"They are perfectly safe," Derek told her, "and we have a long while before making that decision…"
"Derek…I'm not going to change my mind…"
"We'll do whatever Mommy wants," Derek said, placing another kiss on Meredith's belly, "won't we little one…anything that Mommy wants."
Meredith giggled, "Cristina's right."
"About what?"
"You're a saint…or an idiot…" she repeated the comment Cristina had made to Derek over a week before.
"She told you that?" Derek smiled as his lips replaced his hand on her skin.
"She did…she thinks I'm a mess…and being ridiculous and you put up with my crying."
He sat up against the headboard and pulled her into his arms, "why have you been crying?"
Meredith rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Don't roll your eyes," Derek told her as he kissed the top of her head.
"You can't see me."
"No, but I know you…" he said and turned her face up to him and kissed her.
"Derek…I was showing her the resort where we're staying, and it's beautiful… but it's so expensive…"
"I can afford it…that's not a problem, and I told you months ago…we'd go there to get married, instead we're going for a very belated honeymoon."
"The regular rooms are lovely and we can stay there…Derek, we don't need to stay in a villa…it has three bedrooms, we only need one…and seriously Derek, it can pay for our child's half year in college…"
"Cristina is right," he joked with her, "depends where this little one's going to school…"
"Well," Meredith smiled at him, "either of our alma maters…we're talking half a year's worth of tuition…"
"Our alma maters," Derek grinned, "you know the cost of these schools…now?"
"I looked," she grinned at him, "and either one of them…the difference is only $ 2,000 in a year…"
"Really," he teased, "so which one should we encourage…since it's cheaper…"
"Bowdoin," she told him, "it's cheaper…"
"Uhmmm…so…your school of choice is a lot expensive taste and here you're trying to get me not to spend money on her…"
"Derek…we don't have to go anywhere so exclusive, any place with you…just the two of us…would be wonderful…you don't have to waste so much money."
"How can it possibly be a waste…I still owe you those 48 uninterrupted hours…"
"That," she smiled at him, "you do…but…"
He silenced her yet again with a kiss. "Mer…we would have already been there, if I hadn't had the accident…it was our wedding and honeymoon combined…Meredith…we gave away our wedding…let's do this…please… I'll make a donation to whatever cause you choose…if that makes you feel better. But we have the money to spend…and I almost died…we almost didn't have this," he caressed her belly gently, reverently, "I almost missed out on this…"
"The villa is amazing…" she agreed immediately, after he mentioned his accident, determined to please him, to let his plans unfold as he'd intended the night of their oife changed, "but...we're going to have to make sure we get full use of all those rooms…"
"Have no doubts," he smiled at her, "and Mer…if we don't have the villa…we can't get our own private pool…and you can wear your bikini…or skip it altogether…"
"That's really the reason," she teased him, "you want to make fun of me…"
"No," he said, as he cupped her face, "I want to pamper my wife…in private…and make love to her every moment I can…just the two of us…"
"Well…" Meredith pressed her lips against his, "not just the two of us…this little one…he's rather excited about his first trip it seems…he hadn't stopped moving since his Daddy started talking about it…"
"Really…" Derek was delighted, "she wants to go to Bowdoin…too…"
Meredith's melodious giggle made him smile and drew her close to him. "You think that's what it means…all the acrobatics going on in here…" she placed her hand over his.
"Absolutely." He smiled at her, "isn't that right princess," he kissed her belly once more.
"Derek," Meredith entwined their fingers, "you know what I'd really like…tonight…"
"Coffee ice cream…" he teased.
"You…" she told him, "and me…" and her eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Dr. Grey…you're five months pregnant…and you're suggesting…"
"Uhmmm…one more…thing…" Meredith smiled at him, "to add to our favorite…"
Derek captured her mouth before she finished, and before the end of the night, their list of favorite things became longer indeed.
Meredith's pregnancy during the second trimester, unlike the first days after his accident and subsequent morning sickness, was thankfully free of any complications. The night of their sixth wedding anniversary coincided with week twenty two and Derek planned a special evening for them on their land; dinner by candlelight on their cliff and then making love to his wife in the safety and warmth of the trailer.
Meredith and Derek surprised each other with a gift that evening; both poignantly emotional and sentimental.
"Best…" Meredith said breathlessly as she lay in her husband's arms, "six month anniversary…night…ever…"
"Keeps getting better…" Derek captured her lips for a deep longing kiss, "and better…"
"It does," she agreed, "even…when I have this not so little bump in the way…"
"I love the little bump in the way," he assured her.
"I got you something…" Meredith told him, brushing his lips with hers.
"So did I…sort of…" he said, suddenly nervous.
"Derek…what have you done now…you have that look on your face…and I loved the flowers and the chocolate truffles were to die for and we're going away Derek…there was no need for anything else…"
"It's…I just…I hope you like what I did…it's really not for our anniversary…"
"Ok…" she said, "what is it…" and she suddenly had a look of discomfort on her face.
"Mer…what's wrong?"
"Nothing…baby moving…he's getting stronger…kicking harder…"
"You're sure," he asked with concern.
"Yes," she smiled. "I'm sure," she told him, but kept the conversations with his sisters from him; certain he'd overreact if he knew she'd been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions.
"It's not for us really…" he said, and she was unsettled by his nervousness, as he handed her an envelope and she frowned, and then as she read the letter, her eyes filled with tears and she did nothing to keep them from sliding down her face.
"Derek…" she said simply as she read the letter again, and she met his gaze, "you…"
"Mer…I didn't want to upset you…I'm sorry…"
"Don't…" she pursed her lips to keep from crying, "it's…thank you…"
"I wasn't sure…if she'd have liked her name used…so…"
"It's perfect," Meredith leaned into him, kissing him softly; the letter lying between them. "I love you," she said, as he kissed away the tears. The letter from the Alzheimer's Foundation was addressed to Dr. Meredith Grey; stating that a donation on your behalf has been made in memory of Baby Shepherd's maternal grandmother.
"It's a recurrent gift," Derek explained of the very generous donation, "once we know her name…or his; we'll do this every year from our children, in memory and honor of their grandmother."
"Derek…it's…that's you don't have to…it's so much…"
"It's," Derek cleared her throat, "but a token amount," he said of the ten thousand dollars, "compared to the priceless extraordinary gift she made possible for me to have in my life. Meredith…you…are my priceless treasure."
"Thank you," Meredith said again, emotional tears impossible to contain and overwhelmed by her husband's generosity, "it's just what she would have liked…the privacy."
Derek held her for a long while before she hugged him tightly and then reached for a small wrapped box. "My…gift…is very insignificant…compared to yours…but, I thought you'd like this…a fun gift."
"Oh…" Derek said, his eyes glimmering with tears, "but you're wrong…because you see…this just means…that not only do I have you…in my life…my extraordinary wife…my soul mate…but…we have a tiny…precious miracle on the way…and that Meredith…nothing…nothing compares to that…"
"You really like it…"
"I love it," he smiled, as he held several baby items in his hands; a grey tiny shirt with Dartmouth across it and infant size hat and mitten set and two small baby outfits from Bowdoin, a pink and blue onesie.
"They didn't have anything for six months…other than the onesies…the other stuff was for 12 months," Meredith said, "and I wanted him…or her…to have something to wear right away…and since I'm sure…" she rambled on, "we'll be at your Mom's for Christmas…"
"You're thinking," we choked up again, living up to Miranda Bailey's prediction of the mutual emotional roller coasters for these two first time parents, "we'll be home for Christmas…"
"Not this year," Meredith said, "but the baby will be nine months old next year…and the baby should meet all the cousins and have a Shepherd Christmas…and she'll need…the mittens and hat…and…"
"She'll need them," Derek smiled, "it's cold in December…"
"He…" Meredith smiled back at him, correcting herself, "will need them…"
"Meredith…" he whispered, his lips on hers, "I love you so much…"
"I love you just as much," Meredith whispered back, and their lips met, and yet once more their lips and caresses spoke of their love and commitment; the one that had long ago been fated for lovers worthy of legends; the one whose insatiable passion and desire kept them up to the early morning hours of a new day.
The weeks that followed settled into a somewhat normal routine; if you could possibly consider Cristina Yang reaching out to lay her hand on Meredith's stomach and smiling, every couple of days normal; as would the rest, Lexie and Alex and even Mark would every once in a while reach out and mention the baby, and the stage of developmental growth. Lexie, however, was the only one, other than Derek that would talk to the baby.
"I'm trusting you," Meredith said, "completely, I think, that these contractions are nothing serious," and that was the moment that Derek walked in their room.
"Contractions," he repeated as he rushed to her side, "Meredith…since when…have you called the doctor…Meredith…why didn't you call me…what's wrong…how far apart, it's too early Mer…you're only twenty four weeks along…it's too early…"
Meredith smiled at him, "I'm fine…"
"Oh…God…" he raked his fingers through his hair, "that's bad…fine is really bad…"
"Here," she gave him the phone, "speak to the doctor…"
"You had to call the doctor…oh…ok…" he took the phone and breathed in deeply. "Dr. Cameron…" Meredith saw the look of shock on his face and tried to keep from laughing, she after all had the advantage of a week's worth of talking to his sisters and Carolyn.
"Derek…" Meredith said gently, "I'm ok…it's perfectly normal…"
"Nancy," he said, "you are not a nice person…"
"Of course I am," his sister said, "ask your wife…I've been talking to her over a week, and she was right, you'd freak out if she told you she's started to have Braxton Hicks contractions…so she did the smart thing, she spoke to Cameron and to all of us."
"So," Derek said after putting the phone down, "you didn't think to tell me…"
"Derek…" Meredith soothed, "you're worse than I am…freaking out over everything, and I was on the phone with Jenna the first time it happened, and we talked about it…and I went by to see Dr. Cameron…and all your sisters told me it was normal, and I knew you'd react this way," she told him, as in the past few weeks while she became more relaxed over her pregnancy he was on full hover mode, so she'd kept the sporadic symptoms to herself, and only told him of all the times the baby was moving.
"When did this start," he asked her, and she knew he was upset with her.
"Last week, actually right before our six month anniversary…"
"Were you going to tell me?"
"Yes," she soothed him, kissing him softly, "it's in our baby books…and we'd have gotten around to reading about it…together, except we both worked horrible hours last week," she smiled at him, "so…we can read it tonight. I was talking to Nancy…so I could reassure you…because I knew you'd react this way when you found out…but Derek…our little…" she paused and smiled, "Baby Shepherd is growing along just fine…and the stronger those little legs and arms get…the sooner you'll feel it…because this baby is really moving a lot…especially when Daddy talks to him…"
"You're trying to make light of it…that you didn't tell me…" he pouted, "and I want to know everything…"
"I am," she admitted, and kissed him again, "is it working…" she deepened their kiss.
"Probably," he said, "but…it wasn't nice of you…"
"I know…" she told him, "I won't do it anymore…I promise…"
"Right…" he smirked, "just my sisters and Mom…and Cristina and Lexie."
"No," Meredith told him, "I promise…only your sisters and Mom…since they know what they're talking about, the others have no clue," she caressed his face.
"I love you," he shook his head, and kissed her, "even when you're manipulating me."
"It's not me," she smiled at him, "it's the baby and hormones…"
"Convenient," he chuckled. "Baby Shepherd gets the blame…"
"Only this time," Meredith smiled at him, "forgive me?"
His reply was a tender loving kiss and then she settled comfortably in his arms, as she held a book in front of her and he began to read about her just completed twenty third week of pregnancy.
"Mer," Lexie met up with her in the resident's lounge, one afternoon. "How did your appointment go?"
"Everything's great," Meredith smiled, "baby's heartbeat is strong, and I can feel him more and more…I can't wait till Derek can feel him…"
"Your weight…and blood pressure," Lexie asked, "the baby's about a pound and a half now, and you should have gained at least twelve pounds …"
"Thirteen," Meredith rolled her eyes, "if you must know…"
"That's great," Lexie said, "and Mer…the eyelids and brows are developed and he should be moving all over the place…"
"He is," Meredith told her, "he especially loves to hear Derek talk and sing to him…"
"Derek," Lexie got a little teary eyed as did her sister, "sings to him?"
"Don't tell him," Meredith said, as she placed her hand on her belly, "but, it just…makes me love him so much more…how he is with our baby…" she smiled as she thought of the nights that Derek would come home and as she complained of dry skin, rub lotion all over her body, which inevitably led to lovemaking.
"Oh Mer…" Lexie said, as she reached over and placed her hand on her sister's belly, "thank you for sharing the baby…all that's happening…"
"He knows he has lots of people that love him…especially his Aunt Lexie…"
"You know Mer," Lexie told her as she felt Meredith's hand over hers, "this baby is going to have a lot of us fighting over her…even Cristina I think is warming up to the idea of baby sitting."
"Probably," Meredith smiled at her sister, "but I get the feeling she's going to have to get in line behind you and Mark…"
"Oh absolutely…Mark's already told Derek…we get first baby sitting duty, since it's his godchild…which seems fair…but I guess Cristina will be the godmother…so I'm not sure…but Mark's the godfather…and I'm the aunt…so maybe that means…"
"I'm thinking…" Meredith told her, "that Cristina would be just fine…if you get the first baby sitting duty…"
"I'm going to be there," Lexie said, "when the baby's born…I mean when you go home…I plan on helping…if you want me to…I mean…"
"I want you there," Meredith said, "believe me…I have no idea what I'm doing."
"Derek," Meredith smiled as he talked to the baby later that night, "I think you're going to kill me."
"Hey princess," Derek spoke to the baby, "what do you think? Is Daddy going to get mad at Mommy?"
Meredith giggled, "he's answering I think," and grabbing his hand pressed it against her stomach, "can you feel it …"
"No," he said, and she saw the pouting lips.
"I'm sorry," Meredith said, "I'm sure you will soon…all the books say it can happen anytime now…"
"At least," he said, as she moved his hand to follow the baby's movement, "we know she likes my voice…" and he sang a favorite nursery rhyme.
"Derek," Meredith said again, "remember what I just said…about you killing me…"
"Uhmmm…"
"I told Lexie you sing to the baby," she blurted out.
"Did you also tell her I sing off key? Because that's when I'd get a little…"
"You're not mad," she said, "really…"
"I'm bonding with my little girl," he told her, "why would I get mad?"
"Because," Meredith said, "they're all gossips…"
"She won't say anything…"
"Derek…she's with Mark…"
"He's the godfather, he knows better."
"If you say so…"
"Mer," he kissed her stomach and then kissed her lips, "I don't care…"
"I love you," Meredith told him, "we both do…he wants you to know, since he's kicking up a storm."
"I love both of you too," Derek told her as he reached for the foot cream on the nightstand and began massaging her feet, and they spent the rest of the evening discussing their earlier morning appointment and Dr. Cameron's reassurances about the baby's development and Meredith's overall clean bill of health in regard to their travels.
Thanksgiving morning had coincided with Meredith's twenty fourth week of pregnancy, and she was on duty at the hospital given their upcoming trip the following week. Unlike their first Thanksgiving as interns, when the close knit group of five had been off, Cristina and Alex were also working.
Derek, who was not scheduled to work, went in anyway to spend the day close to his wife, insisting he wanted drive her to and from work, especially since there were many crazy drivers on the street that day. He joined her and their friends for a typical cafeteria turkey dinner, though she had no idea he'd made arrangements for a catered meal that evening; their first Thanksgiving together as husband and wife, and that they'd be joined by their Seattle family.
"Mer," Jenna said to her sister in law who was comfortably seated on Derek's lap, in his office late that morning, "are you all packed?"
"Nothing to pack," Meredith giggled, "I told you…Derek's idea of this vacation is that we're going to be wearing bathing suits only…" she knew that wasn't true, but couldn't help teasing her husband, "and he's a dead man if he dares to suggest I'm fat…"
"Jen," Derek took the phone away from his wife, "she looks beautiful…amazingly so…and I can't wait till she's heavily pregnant with our baby…and we get closer and closer to meeting our daughter."
"You've been talking to Rob," Jenna laughed.
"Have you?" Meredith asked him, as she could clearly hear the conversation with Jenna. They'd already talked to his mother and sisters over the last thirty minutes, and Jenna wanted the last few moments with them.
"He hasn't," Jenna told her, "Mer, believe me, all those overly sentimental thoughts are all his…"
"Jenna," Meredith said, "has Rob felt the baby move yet…because this little one is kicking up a storm but Derek hasn't felt him yet."
"It may be too early," Jenna said, "and no…this baby girl still has three weeks to catch up with her cousin."
"You see…" Meredith said to Derek, and putting the phone on speaker. "Rob hasn't felt the baby move either…"
"Derek," Jenna told him, "wait till you do…and when she rolls…it will be amazing, but Mer may not be feeling that either, she's too little."
"Jen," Derek smiled, "you think we're having a girl too?"
"I do…and Mom…but the rest, they're stocking up on neutral things for the shower."
"The shower…" Meredith said, "what shower…you got us things already…and you sent me the list of what we'll need."
"Meredith," Jenna laughed, "you're having a baby…your first baby…of course there's going to be a shower, in fact…we wanted to talk to you about it, or at least I did, because I won't be able to travel for much longer and want to wait as much as we can so it's not too early for you…but I have to be there…"
"Jenna," Meredith said, "that really means a lot to me, but it's a long trip…and Christmas is around the corner…and then you'll be in your third trimester and…"
"Mer…I'm going to be there, I've already talked to my doctor and to Nancy, and I've been a week late with both girls…so I'm thinking we can come out the first week in February you'll be 34 weeks and I'll be 31…which technically still gives a good three more weeks when it's still perfectly ok to travel…"
"Jenna…are you sure…I mean…"
"Yes," Jenna said, "and I'll be traveling with my very own OB and two doctors."
"You're all coming? For a baby shower…" Meredith whispered, they'd talked about it before they left, but it was overwhelming to her that this family would actually do this.
"Of course we are…it's not just a baby shower…it's yours…the first Shepherd baby in a long time Mer…my big brother finally found happiness… with you…" Meredith heard the sniffles just as her eyes began to water.
"You're all coming…they all know? They didn't say anything…"
"They knew better not to…I'd probably have cried if I wasn't the one to tell you," she said, and both pregnant women laughed. "Derek, you better warn Mer about Aunt Pat, she's coming with us." They'd spoken for several more minutes, with Jenna telling her to relax about the baby registry; they'd help her and could talk about it when they got back from their Bahamian honeymoon, but that she and Derek did have to decide on baby furniture and themes for the nursery.
"Theme…for the nursery…Derek…I'm not sure I'm ready…oh God…and we have to go pick out furniture and what's the best ones for the baby and safe…and…."
"Hey," he wrapped his arms around her, "we'll take care of it…when we get back."
The rest of the day proved Miranda Bailey right, as over and over the stupidity of the human race manifested itself with varying degrees of injuries, and Meredith was exhausted when they drove home, unable to get in her usual fifteen to twenty minute nap.
"Derek," Meredith asked when she noticed the cars at their home, "what's going on?"
"Thanksgiving dinner," he smiled.
"Thanksgiving dinner…" she looked at him, "doesn't that require cooking?"
"It does," he smiled at her, "someone else cooked…"
"Not Cristina," she noticed Owen's car, "surely…"
"Not Cristina," he laughed. "Trust me…"
They walked in the house to a beautifully set table for eight. "When…did you…"
"Catered," he wrapped his arms around her, resting on her baby bum, "Lexie volunteered to set everything up…"
"Our first Thanksgiving," Meredith sniffled, "married…and…family…"
"Our first of many," he nuzzled her neck, "I love you."
"I love you too," her hands rested on top of his. "Don't we baby," she smiled as their baby performed acrobatics, "we love your daddy."
"Mer," Alex said, as they all sat down to dinner after Derek had steamrolled Meredith into taking a long bath and nap before it was time for dinner, "just don't make us go around and say something about what we're grateful for."
"What are you talking about," Meredith asked.
"Never mind," Alex said, "forgot you were raised by wolves," and immediately he felt the smack to the back of his head.
"Shit, Yang…that hurt."
"It was meant to," Cristina glared at him.
"Alex," Owen spoke up, "nobody has to do anything. But, before we eat on Thanksgiving, it's customary…"
"Owen dear," Mrs. Hunt said, "leave the boy alone. It's enough sometimes, just to be together," she smiled at Cristina, grateful to have been included in the evening celebration, to be part of her son's life.
"Mrs. Hunt," Derek said, "would you like to begin and say Grace?"
"Dear," Mrs. Hunt said, "I think…you should…it's your home."
"Please," he said, overwhelmed by the fact he was sitting with his pregnant wife, in their home about to share in the Thanksgiving meal, "if my Mom was here, she would have the honor," and with that the bond of friendship with Owen was strengthened, as his mother said the traditional prayer and added her own thankfulness to have her son safely back home.
"Derek," Meredith gently squeezed their joined hands, and spoke softly, her gaze locked with his. "I'd like to give thanks for our friends and family here tonight…for this first year of truly knowing what it means to be part of a loving…amazing family…all of you here in Seattle…my sisters, Alex, our baby's godfather…" Cristina and Lexie wiped away stray tears, "and Derek's family back east…and most of all…for the precious gifts of life we had this year, my husband's…and our baby's."
Derek pursed his lips, containing his emotion, his eyes never leaving hers as he brought her hand to his lips.
"I'm grateful," he cleared his throat, "as Meredith said for our friends and family here and back east, and most of all…for my wife…that she found me worthy to love…to forgive me…marry me…she is my priceless treasure…as is our little one…for a second chance at life," he said, and Cristina, Lexie, Mark and Alex knew he spoke of not just of his recent brush with death but hers, and that his second chance at life had begun the day he met Meredith Grey.
"Amen," Mrs. Owen said, followed by everyone at the table, where everyone had been emotionally touched by the poignancy of the moments. This night was but a first, of many, that in the years to come that would find the same group of people gathered together in celebration.
A/N - 5/31 - Based on the views since this was posted last night, can't tell you how incrediby disappointing the lack of comment are. Selfishly inclined to forgetting the 8000 words of the next chapter and not give up any more hours of the holiday weekend. If you've read, and have any interest at all in the next chapter, even one word as a comment is greatly appreciated. Thank you.