The next month flew in, and before they knew it, Meredith's due date was upon them. And then it passed. Derek would go to work keeping a close eye on his pager just in case Meredith went into labour when he wasn't there. Every time it went off his hopes would rise, but it was always a page about a consult or a patient needing to see him. When they could, Lexie and Cristina had been going to visit Meredith and keep her company, along with other friends and occasionally Susan would call round.

"Not popped yet?" Cristina asked one day when Meredith opened the door to her looking fed up.

"Do I look like I have popped?" Meredith asked, turning and walking back to the sofa, where she had positioned herself surrounded by food and drinks, so she would not have to get up.

"Can I get you anything?" Cristina asked as she followed her through.

"A massage would be great, my shoulders are killing me," Meredith replied. "Or you could go and get me another pillow. Or a cold flannel - is it just me or is it far too hot in here?"

"I was being polite," Cristina said, sitting down at the other end of the sofa and lifting Meredith's legs and placing them over her knees. "You're pregnant, not an invalid."

Meredith lifted a cushion and threw it at her friend. "Thanks for the support. Ohhhhh…" she groaned.

"What? What is it? Is the baby coming?" Cristina asked.

"I need to visit the toilet and I just sat down," Meredith replied, levering herself off the sofa again.

"Um, Mer…" Cristina replied, screwing up her face. "I don't think it's the toilet you need."

Meredith looked down and then looked back at Cristina.

"The baby's coming!" Meredith exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face. "The baby is coming!"

Cristina couldn't help but grin back at her as she stood up to hug her.

"Where are my bags?!" Meredith asked, frantically looking around her.

"You go and get in the car, I'll find your bags," Cristina ordered, sending Meredith towards the door before locating two bags in the hall. She lifted the keys from the table in the hall, along with the bags, and then went to join Meredith in the car. She drove them to the hospital and then helped Meredith inside, putting her in a wheelchair as she went to find someone to get Addison.


Twenty hours later Meredith's excitement had waned as there was still no sign of her baby, or any signs that it would be appearing any time soon. Derek had come to see her as soon as he got out of surgery and had stayed as long as he could before having to go to another. Cristina had had to start her shift, so Meredith had been left lying alone for a while when Addison entered the room.

"How are you feeling?" Addison asked as she picked up the chart. "Do you mind if I examine you?"

Meredith shook her head and let Addison do her thing.

"Well, I have good news," Addison soon said. "You're 10cm dilated - baby will be here soon."

"Really?" Meredith asked, instantly perking up.

Addison nodded, removing her gloves and filling in the chart. "I'll be back shortly," she said as she left the room. There was a knock at the door and Cristina appeared.

"How are you doing?" she asked as she sat down in the chair next to Meredith.

"I'm ready to go," Meredith replied, squeezing Cristina's hand. "Can you stay with me? Derek's in surgery and I don't want to be alone through this."

"There must be something wrong with me," Cristina replied. "I willingly got myself put on Addison's service. It may mean I have to, uh, help through the birth, but at least I'm here, right?"

"You're the best," Meredith replied, finding herself being reduced to tears again. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be getting emotional."

"You should," Cristina said, smiling at Meredith and brushing the hair back from her fact. "You're going to be a mom."

Meredith nodded through her tears.


"Where's Derek?!" Meredith asked, as she leaned back against the pillow, the pain washing over her. "I want Derek."

"He's in surgery Mer," Cristina replied, taking a damp cloth and holding it against her forehead. "He'll be here when he's done."

"I want him now," Meredith said, grabbing hold of the pillow and squeezing it with all the strength she could muster.

"OK Meredith, I can see the head, we need you to push," Addison said. "Push Meredith."

Meredith gritted her teeth and did as she was told, squeezing Cristina's hand.

"Good job," Addison said. "Now, stop a minute. Ok, we're ready again."

Meredith continued to push, and suddenly she felt relief washing over her body.

"She's here," Addison said, as Meredith heard the baby cry. "Congratulations."

"She?" Meredith asked, trying to sit up. Addison cut the umbilical cord, and proceeded to lift the baby and place her on Meredith's chest.

"It's a girl," Addison nodded, standing for a minute to look at the pair. Meredith looked at her baby in awe, before looking at Addison. The pair caught each other's gaze, and Addison gave a small smile and a nod. Meredith smiled at her and then the nurse came and took the baby away, cleaning her up and wrapping her in a blanket. She handed her back to Meredith and then the door opened and Derek entered.

"What did I miss?" he asked, still pulling his white coat on, obviously being just out of surgery.

Addison and Cristina headed for the door as Derek approached the bed slowly.

"It's a girl," Meredith said, looking up at him with tears in her eyes. He leant down and instantly kissed her.

"I'm so sorry I missed it," he said, as he kissed her forehead. "She is beautiful, just like you."

"I can't believe she's here," Meredith replied, looking down again at the baby in her arms. "I love her so much already."

"Have you decided on a name?" Derek asked as Meredith shuffled over, meaning he could lay beside her. He put his arm around her shoulder.

Meredith shook her head and then bit her lip. "Her middle name is Grace though."

"Why Grace?" Derek asked.

"Whatever happens, she is still your daughter," Meredith replied, turning her head to look at him. "Ten months ago I came here thinking I was going to die, but instead I met you. We met here, at Seattle Grace hospital. Whether she is biologically yours or not, she will always be a reminder of where we came from, no matter where we end up," Meredith finished.

"Something Grace Grey," Derek said, leaning down to kiss the sleeping baby. "Your mom is quite possibly the sweetest woman I have ever met."

"So you like the idea?" Meredith asked.

"I love it," he replied, pulling her closer to him and resting his chin on her head.

Later on in the morning, Finn arrived at the hospital to see the baby and he and Derek contributed their part to the DNA test. Addison had promised to have the results back the following afternoon.


The following day Finn and Derek gathered in Meredith's room. Derek was pacing the room, while Finn sat in a chair clicking a pen. Even though she knew it was a big day, Meredith was too besotted with her baby to notice either of them fidget.

"Could you stop that clicking?" Derek asked, as he stopped pacing and thrust his hands into his pockets.

"Only if you stop pacing," Finn replied. Derek sighed and sat down on the edge of Meredith's bed while Finn put his pen back in his pocket.

After what seemed like an eternity there was a knock at the door and Addison entered with a folder. Derek tried to read her face, but she was giving absolutely nothing away. Both Derek and Finn stood up expectantly. Meredith got up and laid the baby gently down in the plastic cot beside her bed. She then got back onto her bed and took a firm grip of Derek's hand, while Finn stood at the other side of her.

"Meredith," Addison said. "Would you like me to tell you first? Or would you rather I just told everyone at once?"

"Just tell us here," Meredith replied, taking a deep breath.

"The baby, your baby," Addison started, seemingly unsure how to break the news. "Your baby is Finn's."

Everything seemed to move in slow motion from that moment for Meredith. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Finn fist pumping the air, before composing himself. He then took out his mobile phone and was furiously typing a text, a grin firmly planted on his face. She felt Derek's hand loosen in hers, before he let go completely to run two hands through his hair. Addison looked strangely disappointed as she surveyed the scene. The sound of a pager beeping interrupted the scene - it was Derek's.

"Congratulations," Derek said, reaching across the bed to shake Finn's hand. "I have to get back to work."

"Derek," Meredith called after him, making a grab for his hand.

"I have to go," he said, taking one last look at Meredith before continuing to stride out of the door. Finn was leaning over the cot cooing at the baby and Addison approached the bed.

"I'm so sorry Meredith," she said, genuinely. "I wish I could have told you something different today, I really do."

She squeezed Meredith's arm reassuringly before also leaving the room, while Meredith lent her head against the pillow, tears filling her eyes. Finn's phone rang and he also disappeared from the room, leaving Meredith alone with her baby. Finn's baby.


Author's Note:

Well, I know people will not be happy with Finn being the father, I wanted it to be Derek's baby too, but In Another Life has run its course and so will reach its conclusion in the next chapter.

But... I have loved writing this story, so I will be writing a sequel, again focused on Meredith and Derek and how they cope with a new baby, especially a baby that isn't Derek's.

Making the baby Finn's will allow me to explore a whole other side to Meredith and Derek's relationship, and I want to see where it goes next.

The whole premise of this story was Derek struggling when he fell for a patient and whether he would risk his life with Addison and his career to be with Meredith. Well, we've answered that now - he's been with Meredith for six months now, they have just bought a house.

So, to sum up: the next chapter will be In Another Life's last, but there WILL be a sequel! Details in the final chapter :)

Thank you all for reading, commenting, and sharing this journey!