"There you are," Simone hissed as Lucas sat next to her, "I thought you'd miss it."

Lucas sat on the last seat of the row and passed water bottles down the row for each of the five interns in his cohort.

"I almost did," Lucas whispered, "Shoulda let you get your own damn snacks."

He could hear Blue snicker from his place two seats down, "Let's not pretend you don't already know the ins and outs of this case. You're a Shepherd, your already a step ahead of us."

"You sure about that?" another intern, Mika Yasuda, snorted next to Blue.

Lucas stared at the both of them with a look of anger in his eyes. Ever since they had found out he was a Shepherd, he couldn't live anything down. For once in his life, all he wanted was to thrive without depending on any family connections. No help from his mother or his father. And none from his uncle or any of his aunts. He needed to prove to everyone he could do it.

Perhaps Grey Sloan was the worst place to do that. He felt it in his core that being an intern here was the wrong move but he was limited on choices and he was stuck here.

"You know what-" Lucas growled.

"Hey the five of you?" Chief Grey turned from her seat and hissed, "Shut up before I ban each of you from the OR!"

Lucas gulped as the rest of his peers sat straighter in their seat.

Meredith Grey used to sit on these seats with the rest of her class. She could see George pass out the snacks as Cristina showed them to their reserved seats.

Then, she became the attending presenting complicated surgeries and procedures.

Now, she was the chief watching the attendings and the interns.

Her husband's- Dr. Shepherd's voice echoed in the hall as he spoke, "This surgery is not the first of its kind, but it's the first one done here in the west coast-"

"And it'll be the first one done after the first surgery didn't take," Amelia took over, "We've been in contact with the lead researchers in New York to see how we can modify the technique-"

Derek nodded before he continued, "And if we're lucky and at top of our game, we will have aided in helping a quadrapalegic into a parapalegic-"

"And we'll be the first to do it," Amelia beamed.

They were beasts. The both of them. Amelia Shepherd and Derek Shepherd had each made a name for themselves. They had each tackled cases that tested their surgical excellence and mental capacity. They had suffered losses that made them want out of the game. And even then, they were both ready to come back and play again.

Together, they seemed…like puzzle pieces that were struggling to fit. But when turned and pressed the right way, you'd prove they were perfectly matched.

"It's the kind of research and technique you could only dream about. And you will be able to see it here at Grey Sloan," Derek looked out to the crowd of attendings and interns, "Dr. Shepherd and I will select one intern to scrub in with us."

"Any questions?"

Interns raised their hands with an abundance of questions. The surgeons answered enthusiastically and effortlessly. This wouldn't be the first time Amelia and Derek would be scrubbing in on a surgery together. And she was sure it wouldn't be the last, either. They worked exceedingly well together and the hayday of their constant battling was long over. Now it was playful sibling banter, big brother reprimands, and little sister pestering that surrounded them. There was also a level of respect between the two. And Meredith was glad to see it.

As they finished up, Chief Grey stood from her seat in the audience, "Thank you Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Shepherd."

The room was filled with scatters of light chuckles.

"This is what we're known for. Groundbreaking surgeries that give our patients hope. We see them go home to their families and live a long healthy life. It's why we're doctors," Meredith continued as she stuffed her hands in her pockets, "For you interns, this will be the chance to observe two of world-class neurosurgeons at their very best. So take advantage. Ask questions. Take notes. Breathe in the majesty of life saving."

The row of interns nodded inspired by what they had just seen.

"Dr. Derek Shepherd and Dr. Amelia Shepherd are highly regarded for their individual work but when they work together, it's incredible," the chief turned to the neurosurgeons with a smile before turning to the interns in the room, "You'll really get to see why you call them the Shepherd Super Surgeons."

The room laughed extensively. It was a nickname the pair had earned from this class. Lucas had let it slip to Meredith once when he was venting about his uncle's lack of understanding.

Meredith turned to the attendings on the stage, "The patient will be here at noon for labs and the surgery will be tomorrow morning. Right?"

Derek nodded, "That's correct, Chief."

"Okay, in the meantime," Meredith smiled and turned back to the room, "Let's get back to work. You've got lives to save."

Derek and Amelia watched as the room scattered before turning to each other.

"Shepherd Super Surgeons?" Amelia raised a brow, "Is that what they're calling us?"

Meredith giggled, "Adams let it slip one time and I've heard it thrown around every now and then."

"The nicknames get worse every year," Derek shook his head.

"Well it's kind of hard to top McDreamy," Meredith shot him a smile before it quickly faded, "Listen I know this is about the patient, and your patient's wellbeing is your main priority but please keep me updated with results."

The siblings turned to her with concerned looks. This was their chief speaking, not their wife or sister.

"The hospital took a big hit with the suspension of the residency program and getting our ranking and patients back has been a tough road," she sighed, "If all goes well, I'd appreciate it if you published."

"Noted," Amelia nodded, "We'll update you when we finish."

"You got it," Derek leaned against the podium, "Avery said something?"

Meredith rolled her eyes in response.

Derek knew the job well. He knew that she cared deeply for her patients. He knew that her priority was always the patients. But he was also highly aware that being chief came with additional responsibilities.

Derek looked down at his wrist watch before raising his brows at his wife, "Okay, we gotta go if I'm gonna make it back before our patient gets here."

Amelia watched as Derek and Meredith both made their way out the room, "Where are you two going?"

Meredith shrugged off her lab coat as Derek turned to his sister, "We have a meeting with Zola's counselor at her school."

"Oh, I remember those," Amelia smirked, "Mom would always freak when she was called in."

"You're not helping," Meredith rolled her eyes.

"Dr. Shepherd, Dr. Grey," Ms. Ballard, Zola's counselor, shook each of their hands as she invited them to sit down, "Thank you for making the time."

Zola Grey Shepherd was a well recognized scholar in every grade she had been in. She excelled academically and was incredibly social. She loved correcting her teachers and loved being the best. It was a trait they weren't always too sure who she had inherited from. Bailey wasn't too far behind. He struggled a little, was a little distracted, but his hard efforts always paid off. Ellis was a quick learner. She kept everyone on her toes but she was brilliant nonetheless. She just hadn't reached the same school her older siblings were at just yet.

Today the parents of the Little Grey Shepherds were here for Zola. After her latest panic attack in school, her counselor requested a meeting.

Both parents nodded before Derek spoke up, "Zola's report card came in. She's kept up with her grades in all subjects and has kept up with all her extracurriculers. I know it's been a challenge but she's not-"

"Derek-" Meredith whispered. She was nervous just as he was but she expected herself to be the one with a mouthful of questions.

The woman chuckled, "No Dr. Shepherd, Zola is not struggling academically- well, you know her grades have slipped a bit but not because she doesn't know the content. Not in the slightest-"

"Is this about her panic attacks? She's seeing someone but she's had panic attacks here," Meredith interrupted.

Derek turned to Meredith and reached for her hand.

"I know, Dr. Grey. I know how much you care for your children. They are both wonderful and have always had excellent comments from their teachers,"Ms. Ballard took another breathe, "But truthfully, we're a little stuck because we don't know what exactly could have triggered it."

Both parents looked at each other confused.

"She was in the middle of science class," The teacher continued, "I spoke to her science teacher as well as the other teachers and they agree that it's Zola's favorite subject. She's always participating, involved in class discussions, she's ahead of her peers which is why she was recommended for the merit program-"

"So then what happened?" Derek asked, "Did something else happen?"

"You need to get to the point," Meredith raised a brow.

"We had a meeting," The counselor sighed, "Her teachers and I all met and we reviewed her academic progress over the years. Observed her carefully in social settings. Observed interactions with her peers-"

A folder was pulled out and opened revealing all her academic notes and grades. A perfect report card each year. Extracurricular participation. High comments from all educators.

"We know our child is smart," Meredith furrowed her brows, "What are you trying to say."

"Zola is easily bored in class," Ms. Ballard continued, "She participates but she's ahead of her peers. She thinks differently, her critical thinking skills are high, she has friends but she has a stronger sense of connection with her teachers because she's craving an opportunity to be challenged and to engage with people at her level."

Both parents listened intently as they each scanned through the comments from her teachers.

Zola Grey-Shepherd is a smart and inquisitive student who loves to learn.

Zola Grey-Shepherd demonstrates a passion for learning and is exceeding expectations

Zola Grey-Shepherd developed a strong sense of empathy and compassion towards her peers.

Talented.

Above standards

Thriving.

All comments of a model student who exceeded all expectations thrown at her.

Ms. Ballards voice interrupted their thoughts, "All of these are signs of a student who is extremely gifted."

"Gifted?" Meredith asked cautiously.

Derek released a breath. A lightbulb went off as if telling him that there was the answer he had been searching for.

How the hell could it have escaped him?

"Yes," Ms. Ballard nodded, "I suggest that Zola move forward with neurological testing to understand how we can better fit her needs. Whether it's here or in a school that gives her the stimulating challenges she needs."

The parents glanced at each other. With one glance, they both knew they were at different ends of a decision. An impasse.

"No!"

"You heard what she said, she is already way ahead of the kids around her age-"

Meredith scoffed as her shoes clacked on the pavement of the parking lot, "I'm aware that she's a smart kid, Derek! But I'm not putting her under any more pressure and have her tested neurologically!"

She kept walking as she heard him sigh in annoyance, "What if she isn't gifted? What would that do to her self-esteem-"

Derek quickly stood in front of her and blocked the car's passenger door before she could make her way in, "You and I both know that Zola is much smarter than an average kid, we've been saying that since she was a toddler-"

"So you're suggesting that these panic attacks are solely because she's gifted? Can we please stop pretending that our daughter hasn't gone through any trauma-"

"I know she's been through a lot Meredith!"

"Her being gifted is not the only answer!"

"I know that! But if she is deemed gifted we can find her the right tools to help her, c'mon Meredith you know just as well as I do that if she is gifted, those feelings of anxiety-"

"I am saying no!" Meredith shook her head, "I will not pressure our child into thinking that she's some sort of genius and then-"

"What? Fail the tests? Say she isn't?" Derek pushed her.

"Zola is a perfectionist," Meredith gritted, "And she likes to know the truth of things. We can't just say this is some random test and not tell her the truth- you've said that yourself. What if it turns out she's not whatever the hell it is that woman said? What if-"

"Gifted. She said she might be gifted-"

" -it really is just her anxiety?"

Derek paced once as he sighed deeply. He let her continue.

"Do you know what's gonna happen then? She's going to be pissed. She's going to be angry - at us- and this will only add on to what she already feels! It will hurt her, you know that! I know that!"

Derek put both his hands on his hips, "She's not-"

"Yes she is, Derek! You know our daughter," Meredith exclaimed, "She needs to be perfect. She has always done this. I am not putting my daughter under the same pressure I was once under. She's just a kid, I'm not doing that to her!"

"That's not what we're doing-"

"And I'm done talking about this!"

He groaned. He knew he wouldn't get anywhere with her. He rubbed his face one final time before conceding the fight, "Fine. You win. We won't test her."

"Thank you," Meredith muttered, "Can I get in now? We have to get to the hospital."

"So she's a genius why does it surprise you?"

"It doesn't surprise me!" Meredith paced from one side to the other in the empty lab, "I know she's smart. I know she's incredibly curious about things-"

"That's not what the teacher said, you said the teacher used the word gifted," Alex muttered as he reviewed his patient's chart, "So what are you going to do? Are you gonna have her-"

"No!"

She'd brought Alex back when she had stepped up as Chief. Jo had finished her fellowship in Boston and their contract at Mass. Gen. had officially come to a close. Working under Meredith Grey was tempting- and a very welcome home.

Nothing fell out of place for the two friends. The same dark sense of humor and banter between them fell right back into place. He knew her well enough that many of her fears had stemmed from her childhood- which was just as sorted and twisted as his.

"Oh c'mon," Alex groaned, "Why not? You're kid's a genius what else could you want? At her age I was getting into fights-"

"Shut up, I got two others," Meredith pointed at him, "That very well could happen with Bailey."

"With how Shepherd reigns him in," Alex scoffed, "I doubt it."

"Ellis is a mini-me," Meredith countered, "According to her dad. She'll be the one fighting in the playground she already bit a kid when she used to go to day care here."

"Yeah you may want to keep your eye on that one," Alex chuckled.

Meredith paced around the room again as she blew out a breath. This wasn't an easy or simple decision. Or maybe it was and she was too scared that something could go wrong.

Zola's panic attacks weren't new. They had begun about a year ago when Meredith and Derek took on a clinical trial to find a cure for Parkinson's in Minnesota. Both parents traveled often and on one occasion, Meredith had flown out on her own. Derek stayed behind and when her flight was delayed, Zola burst into tears and a wave of fear of plane crashes and death overwhelmed her. Derek held her shaking body and had to break the news to his wife.

The months that followed weren't easy either. The trial was demanding and needed her time. A surgeon had suggested he had developed feelings for Meredith, bringing out a bitter side out of Derek again and instigating fight after fight.

They were difficult months. Difficult months that tested them as a family. As a marriage. And as parents.

And for a long time, it seemed that they had come out the other side safely.

"Derek wants to test her. He thinks the teacher is right."

"Of course he would,"Alex looked up from his notes, "You should too. What are you so scared of? That some stupid test says Zola isn't a genius? Or that it says it does? It shouldn't change anything. It should help."

"You're supposed to take my side!"

"Yeah well I've grown. I got one of my own," Alex chuckled.

Luna. Jo and Alex had adopted her after Jo had lost a patient. She was Alex's entire world and Jo's light in life.

Alex looked up at his friend, "If it were my kid, I'd test her."

Meredith stared at him with a raised brow, "Look at us. Talking about our kids."

"Yeah," Alex stood from his spot, "Yang would be laughing at us now."

"I'm gonna kill your wife for hiring him," Amelia opened the door to her brother's office, "Every time I see him, it's like I'm seeing myself."

She plopped onto the chair in front of her brother's desk, "I ask him to do something, he does the opposite. I tell him the sky is blue he says it's red just to piss me off. I am starting to understand why his mother-"

Derek looked up with a loud groan, "You are describing your own teenage years, you know that? Now you know how mom and I felt."

"Oh, please," Amelia scoffed, "I was a lot easier than him."

Derek glared at her.

"Okay, sensitive topic," she moved to lean her head on the desk, "You think we're ready for tomorrow?"

"We are," Derek muttered, "Her labs are fine and we've researched our asses off. I just don't want to be overconfident and gets their hopes too high."

"Yeah," Amelia sighed, "Were you like him? When you were an intern?"

"What are you talking about?" Derek didn't bother to look up at her.

"Lucas. A bit of a mess," Amelia elaborated, "Mer says she brought him on because he reminds her of me and I think she also meant you."

Derek didn't answer. His stern face glared at the papers in front of him before he looked up, "Is Kai coming into town this weekend?"

Amelia furrowed her brows. Derek had been supportive of their relationship. He -as well as the rest of the family- got along well with Kai and was truly happy his sister had someone who truly made her happy.

But the fact that her brother ignored her question didn't go unnoticed. Lucas had always been the favorite nephew and every Shepherd sister knew it. He was like a practice run on how to be a dad.

"Um, no they have a conference," Amelia replied, "Why?"

"Meredith and I met with Zola's school counselor today," Derek leaned back on his chair and folder his hands on his chest, "Academically, Zola is so far ahead compared to her classmates. She's had flying colors all throughout school and she is inquisitive. She's never satisfied with what they teach because she wants to know more. She has questions that kids her age typically don't ask."

He pictured a five year old Zola sitting on the couch next to him.

Derek had been working on his computer for the last few minutes. Zola had plopped next to him with a big book. It looked like she was struggling as the heaviness of the book weighed on her. Yet, he could see the determined little sparkle in her eye that told him she'd pull it up on the couch no matter what.

He eyed her curiously, "Zozo? What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna read this book daddy," Zola answered as she opened the giant book to the first page, "I'm working."

"Oh, you're working," Derek held in a chuckle. He leaned over to see the book in her hand, "Can I see the title?"

Her little hand held down on the first page of the book as she turned the cover so her father could see.

He chuckled even more at the sight of an old edition of the textbook,"Boardman's Neurosurgery?"

"It's a brain book," Zola beamed at him proudly, "I'm gonna be a newosurgeon like you."

"Neuro, Zo," he swallowed a lump as an old memory played in his mind, "Neurosurgeon."

Amelia shook her head at the thought of her niece, "The kid reads about AVMs and clinical trials Derek, what did you expect?"

"She is also highly empathetic," he continued, "which I always thought she learned from her mom-"

"Meredith's a good mom," Amy whispered, "She's my sister and even though we had our bumps she's always there. She definitely learned that from her."

"She mentioned she was highly inquisitive, creative, imaginative, and that sometimes she finds it hard to relate to peers because she's so ahead for her age, Derek nodded, "Her counselor and teachers suggested that she be tested to see if she is gifted."

Amelia nodded finally understanding her brother's question, "What do you think?"

"I-," he sighed, "Yeah, I think I agree. I may be biased because she's my kid but Zola is so mature for her age. Typically, I put it on the fact that she has seen so much with Meredith and I but she's so much more."

"And you want Kai to help," Amelia nodded, "What does her mom think?"

Derek pursed his lips together. With a slight tilt of his head, his sister already knew the answer.

"Ah," Amelia gave him a nod, "She doesn't want to. She's scared."

Derek tilted his head, "She talked to you about it?"

"No," Amelia leaned back on her chair mimicking her brother's actions, "But when it comes to being a mom I can relate. So much has happened that all you want to do is protect your kids from anything and everything."

Derek shook his head. He understood what Amelia was saying. It made sense that Meredith wanted to protect her as fiercely as she was. He knew his wife was fiercely protective and was conscious about what kind of mother she wanted to be.

Kind. Compassionate. Supportive. Encouraging. Loving.

She was that and so much more.

"You should talk to Maggie," Amelia suggested, "She's a bonafide genius, remember?"

"Hey Derek!"

Derek turned to look up at Maggie making her way down the stairs, "Mags, I was just looking for you."

"Oh, okay, well," Maggie sighed as she leaned on the counter next to him, "My patient, Meryl Jones. You cleared her right? She had headaches after falling in her home-"

"Yeah, Griffith paged me earlier," Derek nodded, "She's clear to go."

"Thanks," Maggie sighed as she looked at her brother's expression. She spent a long enough time with her brother in law to know he knew her well.

She leaned against the counter and folded her hands together, "How are you and Mer? How are you handling the Zola thing-"

Derek shook his head not knowing how truthful he could be, "Have you talk to your sister?"

"She told me she shut her out but Mer gets protective about the kids and I pretty much know why-"

"Yeah, well we know why," he nodded with a deep sigh. Derek leaned closely to her, "I need to ask you something that I've brought up to Mer before but-"

"I'm not getting in the middle of you and Mer's bickering-"

Maggie's expression was priceless. She had seen enough of their fights to know that they were both overly complicated and being in the middle was useless because everytime, they would make up and move on.

"It's about Zola," Derek sighed with a slight laugh, "You know her just as well as your sister and I-"

"Dr. Pierce," an intern called out, "Oh, sorry, but uh, Dr. Hunt asked me to find you."

Maggie nodded at the intern, annoyed at the interruption. Maggie had a close relationship with Zola. Maggie understood many of the things her parents simply could not.

Zola was growing into a strong, confident, loving, young Black woman. And society wasn't always kind or understanding or really anything positive to a Black woman.

Being raised by white parents was a different experience. They loved their daughter deeply, talked about race and made sure they did the work- Miranda Bailey had kicked Derek's ass about that long ago anyways- but sometimes, they couldn't understand things the way Maggie Pierce did. She was a strong, confident, loving, young Black woman. Their daughter looked up to her.

And as Zola was growing into her own self, Maggie was a confidant she trusted. And both parents appreciated and cherished that.

"I'll be right there," Maggie called out before turning to glare at her brother in law again, "Find me later, please? I want to help."

"Thanks," Derek nodded as he watched her walk away.

"I have no idea why he hasn't called Carolyn," Meredith sighed as she rubbed her temple. Derek was supposed to call his mother. Derek was supposed to get Carolyn off her back. Derek was supposed to be on the freakin phone with his mother. Not her.

Miranda stepped in through the door and stopped midway, as if realizing she was too late to knock on the door. And she was.

A sense of relief washed over Meredith as she raised a finger to Miranda, "You know what Carolyn, I will remind him again tonight but I really have to go. I'm needed."

Miranda sat on the chair in front of Meredith and waited.

"I will tell the kids," Meredith smiled very briefly at the mention, "Okay, bye."

A loud groan escaped the chief after she pressed the button to hang up.

"Derek's mom?" Bailey laughed.

"I swear, the Shepherds are just as complicated as the Greys," Meredith shook her head as she threw the phone on her desk, "He's usually great at calling his mother. Amy is the one that avoids her but lately he's been skirting around her and I'm the one that gets yelled at."

"It's a good thing she likes you," Bailey laughed, "Listen, I came for a favor-"

"Please tell me you are not quitting," Meredith closed her eyes.

"No, no, I'm not," Bailey sighed, "But I do want to cut back on my hours here."

Meredith furrowed her brows. She had stepped down from her position as chief after the chaos that was the previous year. Meredith had stepped down as director of the residency program and handed the reigns back to Richard. Richard implemented a more hands on approach for the residents that caused catastrophic losses. The program was on probation and effectively shut down when attendings began to fold and quit. Meredith and Derek had been among the attendings to submit their letters of resignation. And when everyone in the hospital turned their backs to her, she was more than ready to walk away.

But she knew deep down this place was home. She wasn't done here and her children needed a stability only home could provide.

Miranda had cheered her on as she stepped into her role. And like a true mentor, she helped whenever Meredith asked questions. But really, Meredith had been more than ready for her new role.

"I am not leaving my position as attending but I do want to reopen the clinic," Miranda explained, "I'll run it twenty hours a week and the rest of the time, I'll be a surgeon here."

"That's a blow to our schedule, you know that," Meredith sighed, "You're the chief of general surgery-"

"So ask someone else," Miranda shrugged, "You brought in the Karevs who are both world class surgeons. Jo can handle it-"

"The Clinic is another expense that our budget can't handle right now," Meredith shook her head, "Even if Jo took your position as chief, I have to run it through the board and through the foundation to run it."

"Grey," Miranda glared, "How much did you and the rest of your class gain from working at the clinic-"

"We learned a lot but it also took a lot-"

"I need a purpose that's other than cutting if you want to keep me here. You have daughters and right now, we're in a war for our rights!"

Meredith eyed Bailey as she put pieces together, "Are you saying you want to revamp the clinic to a women's clinic?"

"Yes! And I want to expand and help women across the country because our damn politicians can't get anything right," Miranda exclaimed, "Look, at least tell me you'll think about it. It's what you do when people ask for the impossible of the chief!"

Meredith laughed before releasing a long sigh. This was just what she needed. Purpose.

"I like the idea. I do, I really do. So as soon as I get approval, I am more than happy to let you revamp the clinic. I'll start working on the budget tonight."

"Thank you!" Miranda stood, "You will not regret-"

"I know I won't. And I know it's in good hands," Meredith nodded, "But it may take some time to get the budget adjusted. We just revamped the residency program and I've stretched the budget to the point where I got looks from Avery."

"So tell him to suck it up," Bailey sighed, "By the way, I overheard you and Derek talk about your little girl. How's she doing?"

"She's trying to learn how to cope again," Meredith sighed, "The attacks had stopped. They had really stopped and then out of no where she had one when she was presenting a paper on Ellis Grey-"

"Why was she reading about Ellis Grey?"

Meredith shrugged, "Derek says she tends to need the truth about things and I rarely talk about my mother. But, she hears things from my sisters and from people who knew her that she asks questions."

"And she got answers you didn't want her to have," Bailey nodded.

"I thought I had to worry about being absent," Meredith shook her head, "And now I gotta worry about my daughter thinking I'm dying of Alzheimer's."

Bailey's phone went off with a page, "I gotta go. Incoming trauma, keep me updated with the clinic, Chief."

Meredith watched as Bailey stood and walked away before she stopped at the door, "This job, is hard."

Bailey furrowed her brows, "This job you have- that we have. It isn't easy. And I'm not talking about being the chief. Being a mother- a parent- is the hardest job you'll ever have. But I've found that going with my instinct, even when it's scary, is always the right call."

Meredith nodded softly. Bailey always had sound advice to give. In the professional and personal aspect. It's why she was so respected. And why Meredith cared about her opinion and approval.

Meredith smiled softly, "Thank you."

Derek could feel the heaviness of the day as he walked into the chief's office and closed the door behind him, "Hey."

"Hi," Meredith muttered as she watched him sit on the chair in front of her. She glanced up from her papers and peered at him through her eyelashes, "Are you coming in as my attending or my husband?"

"Husband," he clarified, "I'm done as an attending for the day."

"You should go home, you have your big surgery tomorrow. You and Amy need to rest up," Meredith eyed him as she threw a stack of paperwork behind her.

"I wanted to check in before I left," he quietly replied as he watched her work, "We didn't leave things in a good way at the school and I don't to fight about this or leave it at that."

"I know," Meredith dropped her pen and sighed as she leaned back on her chair, "I don't either but I also don't want to add the pressure onto her. And I definitely don't want to fight over this with you."

"I get that, I do," Derek nodded as he leaned closer to her desk and folded his hands on top of it, "I just think that we need to talk about it more. That's all."

He looked into her eyes and could see the resistance.

"We're not gonna reach any middle ground tonight, are we?" he asked with a heavy sigh.

"No," Meredith sternly responded.

"Okay," he leaned back on the chair as he grabbed a nearby journal she had tossed to the side of the desk earlier.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna sit here without saying a word for the next hour," he didn't bother to look up, "If you're done by then, we'll go home together and if you don't, I'll head home and put the kids to bed. Either way, I'm gonna sit with you, in silence, as you work."

Meredith couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. Years ago, hell even months ago, this would've been an argument. Which parent was right which one was wrong. She'd dig in her heels and he'd dig in his.

But not tonight. Tonight, her husband, who knew the demands of her job very well was sitting in silence right in front of her. Keeping her company. Because he wanted to.

And right at this moment, it was all she ever wanted. Someone to have her back without overly hovering and needing constant reassurance. She didn't say it often, and she didn't need to. Because he knew that the small actions she did were her own way of telling him how she felt.

When she wrapped her arm around his. When her hand reached for his own. When she leaned her head against his shoulder. A kiss in the morning. Giving him his coffee in the morning. Teasing over the silliest of things. An embrace on a difficult day. A quiet evening outside on their porch. Being intimate in the most tender of ways- and in many others. A simple smile.

"Derek?"

True to his word, he didn't respond. He looked up from the journal with a questioning look.

"I love you," she whispered.

She could swear that his smile could light up the entire room. It gave her comfort. And she knew that the simple smile he was giving her right now was more than enough to know that he felt the exact same way.

They wouldn't fight on this. She could feel it. Disagree maybe, but the battling and constant warring was far behind them.

"I love you, too."

A/N: Hi! First off, thanks for all the reviews! I'm grateful to you always.

Alrighty, let's get to it! I hope that you're noticing that Meredith and Derek have grown a lot. And we've seen a change from the previous fic to this, because parenting is hard and parenting isn't simple. Rather than pinning them against each other in the way where egos and ambition are in the way we're exploring their own roles as parents here and their individual past had influenced them in many ways. We'll see that later on- especially with Derek since we were robbed from knowing more about him in that way.

For the first part, you may have noticed I'm borrowing a case from (I think) season 15. I couldn't find any other cool surgeries so I am borrowing this one.

An important note, I am not White. I am not Black. I am Latina. Very proudly. So please, I hope I didn't offend anyone (particularly because my experience as a Latina woman is different) but I also don't want to diminish the fact that Zola will go through things that a White parent won't fully understand because they don't share that experience. That doesn't mean she's any less loved. We know she is wholeheartedly loved and let's remember how Bailey called Derek out on it too! I also hope that on this review forum we are respectful and mindful and open and recognize the importance of talking about race.

Lastly, I have an ending planned out. I am 100% sure about it and it's an ending I've toyed with for a while. Since the minute I decided to write this fic, I knew my ending very well. I am sprinkling in season 19 as you can see but a lot will be separate. (Also to the writer on Greys who's reading my fic, can ya'll already tell us who's Lucas' mother?) Just kidding, no one on the writing team is reading my crap lol.

Thanks for your reviews, guidance, and if I fuck up, call me out on it. I am human. I am learning. Can't wait to read your thoughts!

(P.S. Did ya like my surprise guest appearance?)