Meredith sat at Derek's bedside, hardly believing it. Just hours ago, she'd been excitedly awaiting his return from D.C., and now he was completely still with a tube down his throat. The doctors had told her there was little hope he'd wake. Meredith didn't believe them, though. This was Derek. Her Derek. The one who had made her life make sense and given it more meaning than it had ever had. Derek just couldn't go yet. She'd never survive without him, and besides that, he didn't know about the baby growing in her belly. Mer took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "Derek? Derek, if you can hear me squeeze once."

She waited a minute, then 2, then 5, and suddenly, she felt an ever so slight squeeze. Encouraged, Meredith went on. "If you recognize my voice, I want you to give me a long squeeze if you can."

Another 5 minutes slipped by, and this time, he gave a long, slow squeeze. Meredith's heart leaped, her pulse quickening. "Do you want me to go get a nurse?"

In response, Derek tightened his hand around Meredith's as much as he could.

"Okay, okay," Mer said, understanding that he didn't want her to leave him just yet. Then she got an idea and placed Derek's hand on her belly. "I... I was gonna tell you when you came home later," she started, her voice heavy with emotion. "I... ah... didn't want to tell you over the phone. Derek, we're... we're gonna have another baby just like we wanted, If you can, please wake up. The kids' and my world would never be the same without you. We love you so much, and we really want you to wake up and come back home."

"Please wake up, Daddy," Zola and Bailey pleaded. "Please wake up."

"Dr. Grey-Shepherd, are you ready to pull support?" asked a nurse, having not noticed Bailey or Zola.

A white hot rage filled every inch of Meredith's body, but to the kids she said, "Wait here, kiddos. Derek, I'll be back, okay?"

He squeezed to let her know he understood.

Meredith had no time for politeness or false pretense, so she merely crooked her finger aggressively at the nurse and mouthed, "Outside. Now."

The nurse followed. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know they were..."

Meredith cut her off. "No. It's my turn now. Don't you ever imply in front of my husband and my children that there is no hope. He isn't dead or dying, and I'll thank you to never act like you know what you're talking about when you clearly have no clue. I never authorized for support to be pulled, and I won't. As long as Derek wants to fight to live, I'll stand by his side and fight with him. I do not want you or anyone else who just wants to give up on the love of my life anywhere near this room, is that clear?"

The nurse nodded and scurried away.

Zola giggled "Mommy told them."

To Mer's surprise, Derek was now awake, and the kids were on either side.

"Mommy, Daddy wants the tube out," Zola told her. "He was trying to cough before."

Mer hurried to wash up and put on gloves and took it out, "There. Better?"

Derek nodded. "Much better now." His voice was croaky from having the tube in, but Mer had never been more grateful to hear him speaking.

Bailey gave him a soft hug. "Daddy all better?"

Derek smiled and squeezed his shoulder. "Daddy will be all better soon, Pal."

"Oh, Derek... Mer breathed, "You came back to us. I was so worried." He opened his arms, and she came over. He closed them around his family including baby-to be. "I don't know what the future holds, Mer, but I know I'm not leaving you without one hell of a fight."