Morgan laughed delightfully as she grabbed a handful of purée from her bowl and threw it in Meredith's face. She froze a little, but her cheeky smile was still playing on her lips as she waited for her Mommy's reaction. Meredith froze as well, trying to stay patient.
"I think she's full," Claudia stated and Meredith turned and glared at her as she heard the amusement in her voice.
Meredith looked back at Morgan and took the bowl from her. As she did that, Morgan's forehead crumpled with wrinkles and she started crying, holding her tiny hands out to get her bowl back. "Baby, food is not for playing," Meredith tried to explain as she had done it many times before and some of the times Morgan seemed to understand her.
Baby Morgan had started the day very cheerfully, Derek finding her chewing her blanket and smiling at him when he bent over her crib. Though she was still in a good mood, Morgan didn't want to understand her mother's lectures this time. She kept crying and asking for her bowl.
Claudia came beside her high chair and took the bowl from Meredith, giving it back to Morgan. Morgan calmed down in that moment and her entire attention focused on it as she stuffed her hand inside and smudged her fingers with food. She took the fingers to her mouth and started eating them, smiling at Claudia as she said to her, "We'll take the bowl if you're no longer hungry."
Part of the food she had grabbed ended up into her mouth but also on her cheeks. She leaned forward and served herself with more while Meredith tried to feed her with the spoon. Morgan let her mother feed her with it, but her attention was still over the bowl, carefully filling her fist with purée. After she swallowed what Meredith had given her, Morgan also ate from her hand and playfully slapped Claudia with the rest of the food, laughing delightfully at the impact and when Meredith discreetly started laughing as well.
"And she's no longer hungry," Claudia stated, wiping her cheek.
Morgan whimpered again when Claudia took the bowl, but this time neither of them was going to let her play with the food.
"That was enough, Morgan," Meredith said as she grabbed a rag and started cleaned Morgan's face.
Derek stormed inside in that moment, dressed and ready to leave to the hospital. He walked straight to Morgan and cupping her tiny head with one hand, he leaned forward and kissed her. "Look at you," he laughed her sticky cheeks. "You look and smell like an apple pie."
"She loves having her hands in the food," Meredith stated with an overwrought sigh.
"That's not such a tragedy," Derek laughed. "She's nearly 6 month old and she already has an idea of how to feed herself. You should feel proud of it."
"I feel proud that I have food in my hair," she groaned. She took a lock of her hair and looked with disgust at the apple purée that had started drying already in her hair.
Derek took that lock of hair and smelled it, smirking at her. "At least you're using natural products," he chuckled teasingly. "Your moods don't coincide all the time," he stated with a knowing look towards her and towards Morgan.
"Weren't you hurrying somewhere?" she asked him, slightly annoyed.
"I am hurrying now," Derek laughed and quickly kissed her on the cheek before he kissed Morgan again. "Have a nice day, Claudia," he smiled at her and turned heading to the door. "I'll see you later, Mer!" he called from the hallway.
Hurrying out the door, Derek didn't have time to notice the taxi leaving their driveway and the person walking towards their house. Only when he bumped against that person, Derek noticed Ellis. He stared at her for a moment, not surprised of her unexpected visit, but surprised of her so-soon visit, as only a few weeks had passed since her last visit on Christmas Eve.
"Dr. Shepherd," Ellis grumbled, shaking the snow his shoe had imprinted on hers.
"Dr. Grey, I am sorry," he said apologetically.
"Is Meredith still home?" she asked, glaring at him.
Derek nodded. "She's in kitchen with Morgan and Claudia."
"Have a nice day, Dr. Shepherd," Ellis said simply and walked past him, towards the house, not expecting a reply from him.
Derek trailed towards his car and stopped, looking back at Ellis. Just then he noticed the big paper bag she was carrying. 'Another present for Morgan', he thought, smiling. Derek didn't have time to contemplate over that as he had been called in to the hospital and that was also the day when he wanted to present his article for a medical journal. He got into his car and drove away in a hurry.
Claudia was washing the dishes, Meredith was looking for a bottle of water in the refrigerator and Morgan was picking up the leftovers from her bib when Ellis walked into the kitchen. Morgan continued growing and at nearly 6-month old she had started prattling a little, among the other things she had learned doing, like serving herself with food. When Morgan felt her grandmother's presence, she looked up and stopped prattling.
That drew Meredith's attention as well, who gasped when she turned and saw Ellis. "Mom," she said, surprised.
"Derek let me in," Ellis said, smiling at Morgan.
"What are you doing here?" Meredith asked her and quickly changed it as she knew how much that question annoyed her mother. "I wasn't expected to see you so soon," she stated.
Ellis put the bag on the table and took off her coat. "I am flying to Paris for a conference and I wanted to make a stopover in Seattle to give Morgan something," Ellis answered. She smiled politely when she saw Claudia and walked over to her, holding her hand out. "Ellis Grey," she introduced herself.
"Claudia Allen," Claudia shook her head. "It's an honor to meet you."
It wasn't in her character to ignore respectable people like Claudia, but Derek knew it and Meredith had suspected something. Ellis Grey was secretly but truly and madly in love with her granddaughter. She left the courtesies for later as nothing and none was more important than Morgan in that moment.
Morgan was very familiar with the faces she used to see everyday and had a friendly smile for everyone, but she also had a short memory, and though it hadn't been long since Ellis' last visit, she didn't seem to remember Ellis. She whimpered once when Ellis put her hands around her waist and picked her up from the high chair, her body becoming tense once she was in her arms.
"Did we have apples for breakfast?" Ellis asked her granddaughter in a smooth-spoken voice as she smelled her face.
Morgan whimpered and put both hands on Ellis' face, pulling back to be able to stare better at her. Ellis let her doing her thing and waited until the stare was over and Morgan smiled at her.
"Morgan," Meredith decided to try and feel more comfortable with her mother's new attitude and take part to the reunion.
Morgan turned and looked at her mother.
"That's grandma," Meredith said, pointing to Ellis.
Morgan looked back at Ellis, staring for a moment only before she giggled and greeted her grandma, playfully slapping her face with both hands.
"And we're sticky like candy," Ellis smiled, taking the baby's hands and holding them in a light grip. "How is she doing on solids?" she asked, none in particular.
Meredith looked at Claudia, who motioned for her to answer as she turned and continued washing the dishes.
"She's doing well. She had a little diarrhea the first week, but it wasn't anything serious so we kept giving her solids," Meredith explained. "She loves anything that contains carrots."
Ellis had taken a seat down at the table with Morgan on her lap and just nodded at Meredith's answer. "Has she tried meat yet?" she asked, running her fingers through Morgan's short curls.
"Not yet," Meredith answered. "We're planning on introducing it next week."
The silence fell awkwardly over everyone as Ellis didn't insist in finding out more about Morgan's nutritional plan or healthy status. She knew her granddaughter received the best care possible, so any topic over this was pointless.
She had seen the change, Derek had seen the change too and Morgan was now calmly sitting in Ellis' arms, playing with her fingers, so Meredith decided to take a step forward in her relationship with her mother and probably, to have a talk to her as Derek had suggested to. "So..." she said, clearing her throat. "Another present?" she asked, looking at the bag.
"Oh," Meredith's question made her realize she had forgotten about it. Ellis took a medium size puppy, fawn and with long ears and blue eyes, out of the bag and showed it to Morgan.
"You're spoiling her," Meredith giggled discreetly.
Ellis looked at her daughter with a frown, disagreeing. "Nothing from what's considered educational and entertaining is pampered."
What Meredith had gotten to see yet was the writing the puppy had on its paws and its stomach.
At first, Ellis showed the toy to her granddaughter and Morgan analyzed it carefully before she leaned to grab it.
"Squeeze its paw," Ellis said and, taking Morgan's hand, they squeezed together its paws. In that moment, the puppy started saying something and Morgan startled and started crying.
Meredith was very surprised and smiled at her mother's helpless look when Morgan started crying. "The voice scared her," she explained, coming over to them. Morgan turned and clung on her mommy, asking to be taken away from the talking creature.
"I didn't think about that," Ellis mused, watching the toy- which in the meantime had ended its speech.
"That's ok, Morgan," Meredith walked around the kitchen, trying to make Morgan stop from crying. "That's just a friendly puppy," she explained.
Being further from the scary creature, Morgan looked carefully around her before she decided it was safe to stop from crying.
"Wanna bet she'll be afraid of clowns?" Claudia giggled, rubbing gently Morgan's back. Meredith shuttered at the word 'clown'. "See?" Claudia laughed knowingly.
Ellis was muffling her laughter behind her hand, but not good enough as Meredith heard her and looked at her curiously. "Besides clowns, Meredith was terrified of grass when she was very little."
"Afraid of grass?" Meredith and Claudia asked in the same time.
"That's right," Ellis nodded. "She stood up on her feet herself when she was 11-month old and she was doing it smoothly when she was indoors, but she was screaming until she was turning blue each time we were taking her outside and wanted to put her down from the stroller."
Meredith was staring at her, dazzled. First of all, she didn't know that a person could be afraid of grass, and secondly, she was surprised to see the type of memories her mother was still holding about her. She wanted to know her mother better and understand her better. She wanted to have the same relationship with her mother as Morgan. They needed to talk, she finally decided.
"Claudia, can you go upstairs and prepare some clothes for Morgan and then the bathtub?" she asked her.
"Sure," Claudia nodded. "I can give her the bath," she said and, without understanding the purpose behind Meredith's request, she wanted to take Morgan.
"I'll bring her upstairs," Meredith stated and glanced to her mother, so Claudia understood and nodded, leaving them alone.
Left alone, Meredith came to the table and sat down beside her mother. Morgan whimpered and frowned at the puppy, so Ellis put it back into the bag.
"She'll love it later," Meredith giggled and kissed the top of Morgan's head. "What is educational about it?" she asked curiously. "She doesn't need toys or books to learn about hugs and tickles," she said, as those were the words written on the puppy. "You can't learn about them. They come to you naturally."
"Don't say anything more, please," Ellis sighed and Meredith could sense a little embarrassment in her voice.
"I won't," she giggled and Ellis giggled as well.
Ellis was a very intelligent person and she knew Meredith very well as they were a lot alike, so she knew what Meredith was planning. She held her arms out to take Morgan and Meredith placed her onto her lap. Morgan leaned against her grandmother's chest and smiled at Meredith.
"Babies are meant to refresh you and keep you young and sometimes alive," Ellis stated quietly, breathing the baby's scent in. "I am old and... tired," she added, still quiet. She looked up at Meredith and smiled. "Keep doing it this way no matter how difficult it gets," she said to her- speaking without meaning words for Meredith yet. "It was difficult... hard to see you crying after your father, especially after how much you had cried when me and him argued. I didn't stop loving you and carrying about you, I just forgot how to show it," she said, looking straight into her daughter's tearing eyes. She blinked slowly and held back her own tears. "I can't turn the time back now. Now you have a daughter and I have a granddaughter," she went quiet for a moment as she looked down at the table. Ellis looked up at her daughter again and said, "I am not good at words."
"Me neither," Meredith muttered.
Both watched the baby as she sucked her thumb and played with the hem of her dress, staying quiet and uncomfortable. Morgan noticed the silence and the stares, so she left the hem and looked curiously up at her mother. Meredith smiled and tucked the hair behind her ear.
"I performed an appendectomy by myself last week," Meredith stated, trying to break the awkwardness between her and Ellis.
"I know," Ellis showed a discreet smile. "I heard it was quite successful," she added. "Richard also tells me about your teaching skills. He's very impressed."
Meredith giggled embarrassingly. "I am sure he had great expectations from me even before I started working as intern at New York."
"You made a good choice," Ellis stated. "Seattle Grace is one of the finest teaching hospitals in Washington."
From there, their talk continued smoothly and pleasantly about medicine and some of the memories Ellis had about Seattle Grace. One question Meredith still had; one she had never dared to ask. "Is dad still alive?" she asked her mother, suddenly ending the medicine topic.
Ellis, who was playing with Morgan's hair, remained frozen, staring at Meredith. She quickly came out of the shock and looked back down at her granddaughter, saying, "I think we would have heard if he had passed away."
"Does he..." Meredith wanted to ask, but couldn't find the strength.
"He lives in Seattle," Ellis guessed her question. "You're old enough, with children of your own, so you can decide if you want to go talk to him or not."
"I don't think so," she replied quickly.
Ellis didn't have the courage to look up and meet her daughter's pain -which was plain obvious in her voice- but she did glance once. "I heard he has..." she had started saying, but stopped there.
Meredith looked up at her mother when she paused and understood what Ellis wanted to say. He had another family now. Meredith sighed discreetly and fought against the tears as she took Morgan from Ellis. Morgan couldn't read the sadness or she didn't want her mother to keep it, so she laughed and put her head down on her mommy's shoulder, breathing warmly against her neck. Meredith blamed her father for not coming back to her each time she thought about him. Right now, she wanted to hate him again, but this time Morgan didn't let her.
-----------
"I haven't seen you all day," Derek whispered in her ear as he caught up with Meredith at the nurses' station.
Meredith dropped the chart behind the desk and then she turned and smiled at him. "That's because of the two surgeries I've scrubbed in so far," she smiled smugly.
"I have a strong competition now," he sighed, faking the disappointment. "Everyone wants you and your interns."
Meredith smirked at him, "You're not good at competitions," she said teasingly.
Derek frowned. "No more Mister Nice from now on."
"No more Dr. McDreamy?" Meredith laughed.
Derek shook his head, "I am no longer Dr. McDreamy or Dr. Nice and Dreamy, whatever you were calling me. I live with you, so I am expecting favors."
"You live with me and I let you give Morgan the bath; consider that as favor," she laughed.
Derek laughed too. "Let's negotiate while we're having lunch," he smiled and showed her the paper bag he was holding.
"It's almost dinner time," she said, checking her watch.
"Let me bribe you with a snack then," Derek opened the bag and a sweet flavor and vanilla and cinnamon filled the air around them, seducing Meredith instantly. "There's also a coffee joining these goodies," he added, smirking.
Meredith just smiled at him and walked ahead, but going slowly so that he would catch up with her and lead their way to the place he had in mind for their snack. Derek knew Meredith didn't like being seen in his office in other matter than the professional one and as the cafeteria was too far and their time too short, he pointed to an empty gurney. They hopped up and Derek put the bad onto his lap, opening it and giving Meredith her cup of coffee before he served the puff pastries.
"I met your mom this morning," he said, hinting about more information.
Meredith rolled her eyes at his curiosity, but she still went on telling him, as he was one of her few friends and as he also knew about her relationship with her mother. "She brought a present for Morgan. A cute puppy that laughs when you squeeze its paws and says something when you give it a hug. Morgan hates it."
"It was a nice gesture though," he said.
"It was," she agreed.
"Of course, no one gives Morgan better presents than Derek," he added, smirking.
"Of course," Meredith giggled.
Derek smiled when he saw her more relaxed. "She couldn't stay for too long without visiting her granddaughter," he added guardedly, checking for Meredith's reaction.
Meredith didn't look disturbed by his statement; she just looked a little thoughtful and nodded when he said that. "She might even want to move back to Seattle to be closer to her," she said.
"Did she tell you that?" he asked her, surprised.
"No," Meredith answered, looking at him. She shrugged her shoulders and sipped from her coffee. "We talked and... we had a short talk, but it was ... a good talk. She loves Morgan."
"Anyone can see that," he smiled at her.
Meredith nodded in agreement. "But I couldn't live with my mother again," she said. "She's nice when she visits, but she's not as nice when she lives with you and she becomes bossy and critic."
"Don't worry," Derek chuckled softly. "If that happens, then you and Morgan must move in with me."
Meredith stared at him in disbelief. "In a trailer," she muttered sarcastically.
"No," he laughed. "I'm thinking about building a house on my land."
That made more sense to Meredith. She smiled, embarrassed. "My dad lives in Seattle too and he has another family."
Derek felt the terrible pain in her voice as she said that. He put an arm around her and pulled her closer to him. She obeyed, needing his comfort.
"At least he's back on track now," Derek muttered absent-mindedly.
Meredith pulled back from his embraced and looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
Derek was a little confused too and hoped that he hadn't said too much. "I mean... it's good that he solved his addiction to alcohol."
"What are you talking about?" Meredith frowned and Derek knew it; he had said too much. "What do you know about my father?" she demanded.
"Apparently a little more than you do," he muttered. Meredith was staring at him sternly, still waiting for an explanation. "That morning, before I took you and Morgan to my trailer, your mother and I had a talk and I told her you were a little confused with her behavior toward you and your daughter."
"You did not," Meredith muttered, glaring at him.
"I wanted to be helpful," he said defensively. "And I think I was," he pointed out.
"So my dad was an alcoholic?" she asked.
Derek didn't like being the one telling her that and he regretted he had brought it up. "That's what your mom said."
Meredith sighed and from that moment, she stopped talking about her parents. She ate one more pastry and sipped from her coffee, both staying silent for a few moments, until Meredith looked at Derek. "Do you think it is ok if I buy Morgan a puppy?" she asked.
"I think that's a good idea," he nodded.
Meredith sipped from her coffee again, thoughtful. "I always wanted a puppy."
"I had a miserable childhood with 2 cats that hated dogs and everyone voted for keeping the cats," Derek sighed.
Meredith giggled as she heard that. "You weren't such a good boy. After you killed your sisters' dolls, it was obvious that none would vote in your favor."
"I shouldn't have told you about the dolls," he grumbled.
Meredith giggled and kissed him on the cheek before she jumped off the gurney. "I need to see my post op patients and then I have charts to do. Thanks for the snack."
"You're welcome," he smiled and watched her leaving.
As Meredith was out of his sight, Derek drew his attention over the paper bag and looked at the people around him as he ate one more pastry. Between nurses, doctors and patients' relatives, Derek easily recognized one person. He laughed, not believing who had come to visit him.
"Mom," he beamed, greeting his mother with a strong hug.
Carolyn Shepherd hugged her son, happy to see him. As they pulled back from the hug, she gave a better look at him. "That was Meredith, I assume," she said, tilting her head towards the direction Meredith had headed to.
"You assume right," Derek chuckled.
"She's pretty," she said.
"She's amazing," Derek nodded. He put an arm around her shoulders and both started walking down the hall, towards Derek's office. "This is a very nice surprise."
"I hope it is," Carolyn laughed. "You found a new excuse for bailing this Christmas. The last time we let you alone because it was after the divorce, this time we decided not to stress you with our reunion again because you desperately wanted to be with Meredith and her daughter, but I couldn't wait another year to see if you would come to see us or not."
"I am glad you came," he smiled. "And to show you my gratitude, I will even pay for your airplane ticket."
Carolyn laughed, shaking her head. "I will be satisfied if I spend a little time with you and especially if I meet Meredith and Morgan. As you can see, I even chose a proper hour to show up. What hour are you and Meredith finishing today?"
"Well..." he let out a sigh. "Your timing is not quite perfect, because Meredith is on-call tonight, but you can get to know her better tomorrow. How long will you be staying here?" he asked his mother.
"One day only," she answered.
Derek looked disappointedly. "Why one day only? What's the rush?"
Carolyn shook her head, scowling. "It's great to see you in love again, but try not to forget your family. Your sister Kathleen is due to give birth this week."
Derek smiled apologetically. "I knew that," he lied.
"Sure," she chuckled knowingly. "Do you have a little time off now? Can we talk?" she asked.
Derek nodded, saying, "My office is not far."
Derek walked his mother into his office and both sat down in the couch, next to each other.
"Tell me how are you," she said, cradling his hands in hers.
"I am better than ever," he answered and the sparkle in his eyes confirmed that. "Meredith is the nicest and sweetest person and Morgan is..." he tried to find the words, but he couldn't.
"I see," Carolyn smiled.
Derek stood up and quickly walked to his desk and took one of the pictures he had on it, returning to his mother with it. "This is my favorite," he said. That was the photo with him, Morgan, Meredith and Santa.
"She's adorable indeed," Carolyn giggled.
"All the babies are adorable, but Morgan is... special," Derek beamed.
Carolyn smiled at him as she said, "You sound like a proud father."
Derek chuckled. "I guess I do, but you'll see why I say she's special. She has grown up a little since Christmas and her curls are longer now. She eats solids already, she's very active though she can't sit up by herself just yet, but the other day she started prattling and she already distinguishes our voices and she recognizes her name when someone says it. She even eats by herself," he added, smirking. "Not using the spoon, of course, but that's a progress."
"It is," Carolyn nodded and watched how Derek continued talking about Morgan.
"She was only a few weeks old when she started understanding us," he said.
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"I mean, each time you were telling her something or if Meredith and I had a disagreement, Morgan always had a feature to express her opinion about what we were talking. I know, that might be in our imagination only, but we like to believe she's special. You'll understand better when you meet her."
"Derek, what about Morgan's father?" Carolyn asked.
Derek was no longer smiling. "What about him?"
"Where is he? Do you know him? Will he come back to his daughter?" she asked.
"He won't come back," Derek stated, glaring.
"Are you sure?" she asked him.
Derek hesitated. "He won't."
Carolyn sighed and put the photo aside, taking Derek's hand. "Just be careful, ok? As far as I can see, Morgan is your daughter and it will kill you if that man decides he wants to be father for Morgan," she said softly.
Derek looked down at their hands. "I am a little scared of that," he admitted. "But there's nothing I can do right now. I can't stay away from them. It's too late."
"But do you know anything about him?" she asked. "Do you know what kind of person he is?"
Derek knew Morgan's father as well as Carolyn knew him. "I do."
"Where is he now?" Carolyn insisted on finding more about Morgan's father.
Derek didn't argue, knowing that was her duty to worry. "He has his life in another state. He signed the custody papers and gave up on his parental rights."
"I see," she nodded.
"Don't judge Meredith for... for the circumstances she got pregnant with Morgan. She knows she made a mistake, but now she doesn't regret it," Derek stated.
"I won't," Carolyn agreed. "Before we divert to Morgan and Meredith again, tell me about your work. How is it going?"
"It's going great. I have a fine collaboration with Richard, the other doctors are talented and I am waiting for Richard to announce his retirement," he answered. "Meredith works here too."
"I think I saw that," Carolyn chuckled. "I see that I can't make you talk about something else besides Meredith and Morgan; Meredith looks younger than you."
"Let's not overreact. I am not that old and she's... not that old either," he said, frowning.
His mother laughed. "I was just saying. You look different from the last time I saw you," she noticed, carefully looking into his eyes, which looked brighter and full of life. "You look younger yourself."
"I feel great," Derek stated. "Having a baby wasn't on the top of my to-do list when I was married to Addison, but it hurt terribly when she told me she was pregnant and she wasn't going to keep it."
Carolyn smiled sympathetically and shook her head slowly. "Addison loves children. She wants to have children. I am very sure of this and that's why I think that baby wasn't yours and this was the reason why she didn't want to keep it."
Derek had thought about that too, but now it was too late for judgments or hatred. His marriage was over and his life restarted in Seattle.
"You thought about this too," Carolyn concluded.
Derek slowly nodded, smiling weakly. "That's part of the past. How is she?"
"Nancy says she's fine. She works a lot and her private practice is going very well," she answered. "I haven't seen her since the day you two signed the divorce papers. She gave me some calls on my birthday and Christmas, but those were short and too awkward. I read something interesting in the newspaper the other day," she said. "Are you considering a possible surgery to separate two adult co-joint twins?"
"That's right," Derek nodded. "We've made a medical team already and we've started working on a plan. We just need to find the right Plastic surgeon. We had an option, but he broke his arm in the meantime."
"You need a Plastic surgeon, you say," Carolyn's kind features turned into a deep glare. "I am glad you mentioned it. What is going on between you and Mark?" she demanded in stern voice. "He barely comes to see me and when that happens, he stays a few minutes only and leaves. Besides, when I start talking about you, he changes the subject."
Derek almost forgot he would have to find something to say to his mother about the cold relationship he had with Mark. He swallowed the lump he felt forming in his throat and tried to stay composed and not betrayed his lies. "We had some sort of disagreement," he said quietly. Carolyn was staring at him, waiting for more. "It's difficult to explain, mom."
"You're a brain surgeon, I am sure you can find a way to explain it. Besides, I am not that dull," she insisted.
Derek said the first thing that came in his mind at that moment, "We argued because I chose to get involved into a relationship with a single mom."
"You and Mark never argued over your relationships," she pointed out. "Unless he knows Meredith and he knows she might be wrong for you."
"He doesn't know Meredith," Derek retorted sharply, taking his mother by surprise with his reaction and also making her suspect something.
"You're lying to me," Carolyn stated calmly.
"Why do you need to know anyway?" Derek was far from calm at that point. "We did have a disagreement over my relationship with Meredith and then both of us were very busy with work and personal life, so we didn't get to talk too much. We're still friends."
"Ok. I am leaving you two alone. I just hope there's nothing serious behind this disagreement," Carolyn said.
Derek hated himself in that moment for lying his mother, "It's nothing. Just nonsense."
"You know better," Carolyn half-heartedly agreed to accept his explanation. "Why don't you call Mark for help to this surgery? You know he is one of the Plastic surgeons in the country," she suggested.
Derek had thought about that, but because of Meredith and Morgan, he avoided mentioning him to the Chief. Giving a second thought, maybe this would be the right time for Mark to meet his daughter and decide once for all if he wanted her back or not.
"I heard he's been busy lately," Derek lied. "I'll try and give him a call though."
"You should do that," his mother nodded. Her instinct was telling her that something serious was going on between her son and his best friend.
As Mark was out of the topic again, Derek felt more relaxed and happy again to see his mother. They talked a little bit more, about work, Meredith and especially Morgan. Derek had to leave his mother alone for a while as he received a page down in the ER. Carolyn agreed to go and wait for him in the main lobby.
----------------
The page he had received in the ER was from Meredith and it needed surgery, so both could scrub in. They were in the scrub room, washing their hands after the successful surgery.
"Mom is here," Derek decided to finally announce her.
"My mom?" Meredith asked him, confused, not thinking for a second that it could be Derek's mother.
"No. Mine," he said and looked at her, watching her reaction.
Meredith stared at him speechless. How could she forget he had a mother?
"Don't panic," Derek smiled encouragingly. "My mom is the nicest person in the whole wide world. She's even nicer than me," he chuckled, hoping she would taste his sense of humor.
Meredith forced a smile.
"I am done for today and then I am going out with her, but I want you to meet her first," he said. He dried his hands as he leaned against the sink, pleadingly looking at Meredith. "Just come with me and say hi. You don't have to say anything else."
Meredith sighed and washed the soap off her hands. She shut the water and grabbed a towel to dry her hands while she leaned against the sink too. "What did she say about Mark?"
"She didn't say much. She did notice the cold relationship between us though," Derek sighed. "I told her only half of truth about Morgan's father."
Meredith gave him a panicked look.
"She doesn't suspect Mark. I told her that Morgan's father had another life in another state and that he gave up on his parental rights," Derek explained.
"Didn't she ask you why you and Mark are no longer the best friends?" she asked him.
"She did and I said it was because of a disagreement we had over me being involved in a relationship with a single mom," he answered.
The scrub nurses were also leaving the operating room, coming out to scrub their hands, so Derek led Meredith outside. She took his hand and dragged him in a more private corner.
"I am feeling bad, Derek. I ruined your friendship with Mark and now you have to say lies to your mom to cover for me. That's not fair to you," she said quietly.
Derek smiled lovingly at her and brushed his hand against her soft cheek. "I am not sure yet if my friendship with Mark is over. We haven't seen and we haven't talked yet. I think we'll clear that out later when we'll meet. Don't feel bad because of me. That's not fair to you when I am more than happy to be with you and Morgan." He cupped her cheek and kissed her softly, stopping her attempt of protest.
Comforted by his kiss, Meredith rested her hands on his chest, enjoying his warm breath against her temple. "You say she's nice," she murmured.
Derek made a step back, smiling at her. "She's very nice," he promised and took her hand.
Carolyn was still in the main lobby, reading a magazine, when Derek and Meredith got there. She saw his son and stood up, greeting Meredith with a warm smile.
"Meredith," Carolyn said and gave Meredith a small hug.
"Mrs. Shepherd," Meredith smiled back.
"I was supposed to make the introductions," Derek chuckled and kissed his mother. "Isn't she lovely?" he asked.
"Who are you asking?" Carolyn laughed.
Derek laughed and pointed to both of them. "I am asking both of you."
"She is lovely," Carolyn nodded.
Embarrassed, Meredith giggled and discreetly elbowed Derek. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Shepherd. I asked Derek to tell me some bad things about you and not just the good ones. He couldn't find any."
"That's flattering," Carolyn laughed.
"I didn't know you were this cheesy," Derek laughed teasingly as he kissed Meredith.
"I can't compete with you," she giggled.
Meredith was surprised of how easy it felt knowing Derek's mother. A little fear she did have as she couldn't shake off her head the fact that Mark was somewhat part of Carolyn's family too. She didn't feel comfortable with that thought and that made her feel like a cheater.
"How long will you be in Seattle?" Meredith asked her. "I am afraid I have to work tonight, so I can't stay long."
"Yes. Derek told me. I will leave tomorrow evening as in a few days one of my daughters is about to give birth," Carolyn answered.
"Oh, I didn't know that. Derek said something about tones of nieces and nephews, but he didn't say the number was still growing," she giggled.
"Hey, I lost the count. But probably I should get used to having a pregnant sister all the time," Derek joked.
"Stop making fun of them, Derek. Procreation is the most sacred thing in the world," his mother scolded.
"She's right, Derek," Meredith took her side.
"Men will never understand this because they will never be able to experience it," Carolyn said to Meredith.
"Let me disagree," Derek cut in ready to explain that… "Nowadays…"
"I don't agree," his mother silenced him.
Meredith looked amused at the disagreement between mother and son, which despite that, they still looked like mother and son. She admired the relation Derek had with his mother.
"Now that we're speaking about children," Carolyn said, turning to Meredith. "Do you mind if I go and see your baby today?" she asked her. "Derek told me a lot of things about her and he showed me a photo of hers, so I am very curious to meet her too."
Meredith was a little surprised with Carolyn's question. The fact that she had asked the permission of seeing her daughter made Meredith like her even more. "Sure you can."
"That's great," she smiled. "Then I won't stress you more. I will have more time for that tomorrow," she said with a chuckle.
Meredith wasn't scared of that. She chuckled and nodded in agreement. "I should get back to work now."
"And I will go change the clothes," Derek said to his mother. "I will back in a few minutes."
"Ok. I will see you tomorrow, Meredith," she said.
Meredith just smiled and waved at her, while she left with Derek.
"I told you she was lovely," he smirked at her while waiting for the elevators.
Meredith smiled and nodded. "Call me if anything happens to Morgan."
Derek leaned to her and kissed her, "As always."
She frowned and made a step back. "It never happens anything to her," she pointed out.
Derek stared at her, almost in disbelief. "Would you prefer something to happen to her?" he asked her.
Just then she realized how her words had sounded. "No," she smiled embarrassed. "But I am almost sure that she has an ache or a problem and I have this feeling that you and Claudia hide it from me."
Derek just smiled. His elevator just got there, so he gave her a quick kiss and stepped into the elevator.