Chapter 48: Is Meredith Okay?
"Hi Derek."
"Hi Lexie," he answers and turns his head to the side. "How are you?"
"I'm okay but I'm actually wondering what's going on with Meredith. She won't tell me but I'm hoping you will."
"What's wrong with Meredith?" Derek asks in alarm and grabs Lexie's arm tightly.
"Ow Derek," she says, and he immediately releases her arm and mumbles an apology. She continues, "Meredith says she's fine but she's acting weird. I caught her literally falling asleep over a chart this morning. She even turned down a muffin from the coffee cart. She never does that. There's other small stuff."
Derek sighs in relief and answers, "She's trying to do too damn much for Christmas and she's exhausting herself. Plus, she's freaked out about having everyone over tomorrow night."
"Okay," Lexie replies and gives an audible sigh of her own. "Maybe you can convince her to go take a nap in an on-call room. She doesn't have surgery until later this afternoon."
"I'm sure I can," he chuckles.
"Good," Lexie states, "Here she comes now, and she is dragging." She says bye to Derek and makes a quick retreat in the opposite direction of her sister. Lexie isn't in the mood to have her head bitten off by Meredith again."
"Hi Derek," Meredith says as she walks up to her husband and wraps her arms around his waist and lays her head on his chest.
"Hi Mer," he replies in surprise because she never goes for the public display of affection at work. Maybe Lexie was right, and something was wrong. "Are you okay?" he asks and hugs her back.
"I'm fine," she answers and pulls away from him. "Just tired. I'm actually going to lay down. Do you want to come with me?"
"Yes," he answers and holds out his hand. She takes it and leads them to the nearest available on call room. They lay down together on the narrow bed and Meredith is asleep in Derek's arms almost immediately. He frowns in concentration - trying to recall exactly when her fatigue had begun. He couldn't remember the exact day but thinks it's been about a week. He stays with Meredith - holding her tightly. He promises himself to pay better attention to how she's taking care of herself.
Derek was feeling very restless. Meredith was sleeping again. She'd gotten up with him that morning and she'd been excited and happy about Christmas. They'd made love, had breakfast, taken a shower together and then gone out for a walk on their land. By the time they'd come back to the house she was yawning. When he'd asked her how she was feeling she'd said fine just tired. She went in to lie down and fell asleep quickly.
The doorbell rang and Derek went to answer it before whomever was at the door rang again and woke Meredith.
"Merry Christmas." said Mark. "I came over early in case you and Meredith need help with anything."
"No." Derek said, waving his friend inside and shutting the door. "We're all set. The gifts are all wrapped, and the food arrives at four."
"Where's Meredith?" Mark asks after looking around and not seeing her. He sets the wine he's brought on the counter.
"Sleeping." Derek replies.
"She's been doing a lot of that." Mark states.
"I know." Derek sighs. "Do you want coffee?"
"Did you make it?"
"No." Derek grins.
"In that case, yes, but I'll get it."
"I can get coffee in my own house." Derek answers.
"I know," Mark replies, "Let's just be cautious today. Your wife has already ripped me a new one this week. I'd rather not have a repeat performance."
"What are you talking about?"
"Didn't she tell you?"
"Apparently not." Derek frowns.
"Huh," Mark grunts. "Well, she was rather pissed at Dave and I for turning your front yard into a winter wonderland and not warning you before we left. I'm sorry, by the way. We should've told you."
"Yeah, well." Derek grins and shrugs.
"She really loves you," Mark says, sounding in awe.
"I'm a lucky bastard because of it." Derek states emphatically.
"What will you do if something is wrong with her?"
Derek's entire body goes completely still and he's quiet for a long time. Leave it to Mark to get right to the heart of the matter. Finally, Derek answers quietly, "There's nothing wrong with Meredith."
"Derek." Mark says patiently, knowing this conversation sucks, "Even I've noticed your wife's extreme fatigue."
"There's nothing wrong with her!" Derek yells. He takes a deep breath and then says more quietly, "She's a Fellow, it's Christmas, she's been working her ass off and she's just tired. There cannot be anything wrong with Meredith."
Mark decides to let it go for now but keep an eye on the situation. He answers, "You're probably right."
"I am."
Mark puts a cup of coffee in his friend's hand. Once Derek takes a drink he says, "Maybe she's pregnant," and laughs as Derek chokes on the hot liquid.
"Meredith isn't pregnant." Derek answers after he's done coughing.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." he replies, but with just a bit of hesitancy.
"No, you're not." Mark grins. "What are you going to do if she is?"
"Have the baby." Derek shrugs. "We already decided to try for a baby at the end of her Fellowship."
"What?" Mark sounds shocked. "I thought you were completely against the idea of children."
"I want a child with Meredith," Derek says, his tone of voice intense. "It'll be an adjustment. A huge adjustment, but -" he trails off and shrugs again.
"Wow." Mark says, shocked. Then he shudders, laughs and replies, "Better you than me."
"That's the truth," Derek laughs. He and Mark start talking about work and before long Meredith comes out to join them.
Meredith stands in her doorway looking out at the nieces and nephews playing in the winter haven that Mark and Dave had created. She'd been really angry with them, but it was turning out to be a huge hit with the kids. She smiled as she saw the once intimidating Miranda Bailey scoop her daughter into her arms and laugh at something with her.
Meredith was surprised to feel an emotional lump forming in her throat. A year ago - she'd been dating Derek, but he'd spent Christmas with his family and she with hers. Now they were all one big family. Including Miranda, Tucker and their kids. And Cristina and Mark - she thought with a smile as they good-naturedly bickered about something.
Meredith walked back into the living room and saw Derek by the sparkling Christmas tree. He was sharing scotch and conversation with Dave and Tucker.
"Hey," Molly said quietly from beside her. "are you all right?"
"Yes," Meredith answers as tears begin falling down her cheeks. She leaves the room to go outside to the back deck.
"Are you sure?" Molly asks, following her sister.
"Yes," Meredith answers with a laugh, once she has herself under control again. "I was just looking around and feeling very happy and emotional. It felt like a Hallmark moment and then the waterworks started."
"Hey," Lexie says from the doorway. "What's going on?"
"Meredith's having an emotional, Hallmark, PMS-ing moment," Molly teases.
"Is that right?" Lexie asks as she joins her sisters on the deck.
"Maybe," Meredith answers.
"What do you mean. 'maybe'?" Molly asks. "You were out here crying happy tears. There's no maybe about it."
"I mean 'maybe' to the PMS part."
There's a long moment of stunned silence and then both Lexie and Molly shriek, "What?"
"Shut up," Meredith laughs. "All I'm saying is that I'm not certain it's PMS. The Hallmark moment is true."
"Oh my God," Lexie states with a huge grin.
"Mer, are you -" Molly begins.
"I'm not sure," Meredith answers quietly. "Maybe. I'm constantly tired. Food makes me a little queasy and my period is one day late. Which shouldn't make me suspicious except that I'm like clockwork."
"Oh my God." Lexie says again.
Molly laughs and asks, "Does Derek know? And how long are you going to wait before you take a test?"
"Derek doesn't know and I'm not going to say anything until I know for sure. As far as testing - I'm thinking New Year's Eve."
"You're going to wait a week?" Lexie asks in surprise.
"Yes." Meredith answers decisively. "I think it'd be a special way to start the new year."
"That's so disgustingly romantic that I'm jealous," Molly sighs and wraps her arm around Meredith.
"Well," Lexie sighs, also putting her arm around Meredith, "it looks like a happy new year for the Grey sisters."
"Yes," Meredith says and raises her eyebrows at Lexie.
"Ryan told me he loves me earlier today," Lexie grins.
"Really?" Molly asks.
"Did you tell him you love him?" Mer asks.
"Yes." Lexie sighs and the sisters laugh softly.
"What's going on out here?" Dave asks from the doorway.
The three sisters turn to see Derek and Dave standing there - grinning.
"Just girl talk," Lexie answers - walking toward her brothers-in-law.
"Lexie's in love," Molly answers, wrapping her arms around her husband.
"Is that right, pipsqueak?" Dave teases.
Derek comes outside to join Meredith as the other three head back into the house. They wrap their arms around one another and quietly enjoy the evening. "I love you, Meredith."
"I love you too, Derek."
"You know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Yes," she answers, knowing he's been worried about her. "I promise - I'm not keeping anything worrisome from you."
"But you are keeping something from me?"
"No," she answers, squeezing him tightly. "If there is something to tell - you'll be the first to know."
"Meredith -" he begins with a slight frown.
"Are you coming back to feed all of us before we revolt on you?" Miranda calls from the door.
"We'll be right there," Derek answers.
"We're coming now," Meredith replies. Then she kisses Derek and says, "Everything is fine, Derek. Let's enjoy the evening and have Christmas together tomorrow."
He smiles, leans down to kiss her and then takes her hand in his to go back inside. And now he's not really worried. However, he is wondering if Mark's pregnancy suspicions may be correct. A little Meredith, he thinks with a grin.
