A/N: I don't own Grey's. And we're really pushing the T rating here, folks.


Once upon a time, she thought marriage would lead to boredom. Dullness. Monotony. Routine. She feared it and was certain it would lead to an inevitable demise of a boring marriage.

Nothing made her happier than proof that she had been wrong. Because right now, at this very moment, Meredith Grey was anything but bored.

She gripped the sheets until she was certain her knuckles had lost all it's color. She could feel the heat on her chest travel up her cheeks. She was certain she'd blow their cover as she tried to supress a loud, long, languid moan. She felt his hand travel up her navel as her right hand flew to the salt and peppered tresses of his hair hidden between her thighs.

She was falling, falling, falling, and didn't know where or when to land.

When she finally hit planet earth, she could hear his smug laugh as he pressed long open mouthed kisses up her torso, her neck, and finally her lips.

"Oh," she moaned, "that was.."

She kissed him again as he chuckled into the kiss.

"What were we..?"

"You're taking them to school today, Zo doesn't have therapy today, Bailey has practice, " he kissed her neck again as he resumed the conversation they were having before the interlude, "but Erin is picking them up so he should be fine."

This had become a norm with them. Sex and the mundane conversations of their every day routine.

"Right, ohh," she moaned as his hands wandered once more. She wrapped her legs around him as her own hands ran down the firmness of his arms, "Your big, big surgery-"

He kissed her again as his hand slid up the thigh wrapped around his waist.

"-is today." Another kiss.

"I have to impress the chief," he whispered into her ear before nipping her lobe, "She's very hard to impress."

Meredith giggled as she pressed another kiss to his lips and felt him roll over onto his back. She rolled onto her stomach and watched him through hooded eyes.

"That was a good way to wake up," Meredith sighed, "And a nice distraction from all the crappy things happening."

Derek laughed as he reached for the phone on the night table and looked at the time. Big surgeries always made him nervous. He had been up for at least an hour tossing and turning before his final turn made him meet a pair of green eyes.

What was supposed to be a gentle good morning kiss, turned into a long, passionate, round of sex. The kind that left them both breathless and yearning for more. Sex between Meredith and Derek was a form of communication between the two. A way of hiding away from the world. And a reassurance that they still had passion between them.

But now time was reminding him that he needed to face the day and the responsibilities ahead of it. Their time in solace was over.

"I gotta get up soon if I wanna get there early," he muttered before groaning. He pushed the sheet off and tried to sit up before a palm pressed against him.

"Wait," she pressed another kiss against him before returning the open mouthed kisses against his neck, "We're not done."

"We're not?" he watched as she kissed down his torso her teeth capturing one nipple before her hand wandered down his body.

She looked up at him, lust and longing clouding her eyes before disappearing from his sight.

And in a pleasurable turn of events, he was the one suppressing moans and clutching on sheets.

Derek let out a long hiss, "We're not done."


"Big freakin day today!" An overenthusiastic Amelia shrieked as she ran up to her fellow neurosurgeon.

Derek sighed as he met his sister at the elevator door, "Big freakin' day."

"Are you smiling because of the surgery or because you got laid this morning? You should've been here a lot earlier-"

Derek frowned at his sisters lack of a filter and released a loud groan, "I'm not one of your sisters. My sex life is none of your buis- "

Amelia chuckled as she waved him off, "You're right, I don't care. This is happening, we are really doing this?"

"It's really happening," Derek nodded as the elevator doors opened, "Did you see my suggestion for the surgery?"

"I did," Amelia sighed, "I was kind of hoping-"

"We can't let personal feelings in this," Derek stopped her, "We're attendings on this, he's an intern, he's not our nephew here. He made that clear."

"No, I know that!" Amelia smacked his arm, "I was hoping you'd be swayed to give Milin a shot but I think Griffith is good. She's got quick hands and Maggie vouched for her too."

"Okay, good, so it's Griffith," Derek nodded before they stopped at the door, "You want to do the honors?"

Derek gestured towards the door. This was her case. He was just tagging along. He was being a supportive brother- something he was always accused of not being. And he wasn't always. But with time, and after a few near death experiences, he had changed.

Amelia smiled as she walked into the patient's room, "Good morning! How are we feeling this morning?"

"It's here?,"Toby, a former patient of Amelia's, answered, "They're here? The stem cells are here?"

Derek smiled behind his sister, "They're here. How are you feeling Kari? You ready to do this?"

Kari had lost all sensation and feelings from her neck after a collision. Link and Amelia had done everything they could but sometimes you couldn't predict what happened in the OR. Her spine swelled and Kerry had become a quadraplegic.

It was heartbreaking, but Amelia was determined to find a way to help. And now, she'd be able to see this home.

"Yes," Kari stared at both surgeons before turning to her child, "We're ready."

No movement came from her except a slight nod.

Derek nodded before lowering his voice, "It's my job to remind you of the risks to this surgery-"

"What else can happen to me?" Kari chuckled before her eyes landed on her child.

"You should listen to him," Toby nodded, "These risks can-"

"Toby," Kari looked at them, "There's no living without risk, remember?"

"Mom-" Toby gulped.

"Up until two years ago, I had that boring job I hated so much I'd cry in my car every day at lunch, but I was too scared to quit," Kari whispered to them. Derek took a step back to allow them a moment. He couldn't help but listen to the words coming out of the mother's mouth.

And then you came home and you said, "Mom, I'm not a woman. And I'm not a man. I'm both. And I love you, but I don't care if you like it or not". And I realized how much of my life I've lived in fear while you, my child, who I made, was living your truest, most authentic life," Kari continued as tears ran down her eyes, "Your bravery is the reason I started really living, and not once in these last two weeks have I missed that safe life. Not once. I got to live because of you, Toby. Because you taught me that we have to throw ourselves in, right? All in.'

"All in," Toby sniffed before turning to the neurosurgeons, "We're ready."

"Okay," Amelia softly answered, "We'll get you ready."

Both doctors smiled as they walked out of the room thinking of their own roles as parents. This wasn't just a patient. This was a mother. A mother who loved their child so much. Who learned from their child and was inspired to be a greater human being because of it.

Amelia turned to her brother as they walked the hall, "I aim to be a parent like that."

"Me too," Derek answered.


"Guys, we're heading out soon," Meredith called out, "Hustle please!"

A grumpy Ellis trudged down the hall with her backpack in hand, "I don't want to go to school."

Meredith suppressed a chuckle, "I told you not to go to bed too late, Ellie Belle."

"I didn't go to bed late!" Ellis argued with a pout. She furrowed her brows as she crashed onto the couch, "Mom, did you sign my homework?"

Meredith closed the fridge behind her and looked to her youngest, "I did. I put it on the table so put it in your folder before you leave it here."

Her hand went up in the air as if she were trying to summon it towards her.

"Oh no little Miss Ellis," Meredith chided, "I'm not getting it. Go before you leave it here and I get a call asking me to drop it off."

The little blonde girl groaned before she lifted herself off the couch and ran off to the table, "Got it!"

"Thank you," Meredith smiled as she watched her daughter make her way towards her.

Years ago, Meredith would've laughed at the idea of a life like this. Of a husband at home with three beautiful children. Now, her life was completely full and she couldn't see it any other way. Her career was important. It made her happy and fulfilled but she'd give it all up for the kids she was raising. Their smiled brightened her days. They laughed filled her life with so much joy. And life without them was dull and lifeless.

"Mom-" Ellis called out.

"Mom!" Bailey ran down the hall with an alarmed look plastered on his face, "You need to come quick! Something's wrong with Zola!"

Meredith looked up from the lunchbox, "What do you mean something's wrong?"

"She's sitting on the floor crying, I think she's having a panic attack, again," Bailey quickly explained.

Meredith ran to her daughter's bedroom. Sure enough she sat frozen on her bed, her arms around her legs as she wrapped them closer to her chest.

Meredith's heart ached at the sight, "Zozo, look at me, breathe."

Bailey stood at the door and watched as his mom tried to soothe his sister. Ellis ran and stood next to her brother. If their mother had noticed their presence, they weren't aware.

"Zozo, deep breathes," Meredith guided her as they took deep breathes together. Her hands cupped each one of her cheeks. A move Zola's father often did when he witnessed this. It worked with Meredith just as much.

"What happened?" Meredith asked as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed next to her daughter. She looked up and saw her two other children shuffle out. She didn't want them to see this. But she also knew they were worried.

"I just-I had a nightmare that Dad-"

"Dad dying nightmare?" Meredith sighed. She knew the nightmare well enough.

"And you," Zola whispered, "I've never dreamt that before. I never dreamt being alone and I got so scared."

Meredith rubbed her hands up and down her daughter's arms. She felt helpless, frozen, and week.

Numb.

She felt numb.

"It's okay, Zozo," the mother whispered, "I'm right here. You're not alone."


Maggie looked up as she recognized the voices down the hall, "Hey, what are you doing here? Isn't it a school day or did I come in on a weekend again?"

Meredith shook her head, "Zo, why don't you get started on your homework in my office, please?"

"Mom, I don't want to do-"

Meredith reached for the tresses on her hair, "The deal was you keep up with your school work if you're missing class."

"What about Dad?"

"He's busy with your Aunt Amy," Meredith sighed, "Please, go to the office."

Zola nodded and moved to embrace her aunt before walking down the hall. Maggie turned to watch her. Something about these attacks seemed familiar. Something about Zola resonated with her. Then again, her niece had gone through so much pain and trauma in her short life.

"She had another one?"

"Derek and I woke up this morning- early- and had dirty, dirty sex," Meredith gulped, "My daughter woke up to a panic attack because she dreamt her parents had died."

"That's such an odd and disturbing sentence," Maggie whispered.

"We're doing therapy, and she likes her therapist," Meredith assured, "She is doing well in school- well her grades have slipped a bit but-"

Meredith bit her lip. She left out the part where her teachers said Zola could be gifted. For a moment, she contemplated it.

"I just- I don't know what to do," Meredith shrugged as her voice wavered, "I feel so lost and I am scared."

Maggie contemplated the situation, "Let me hang out with her today. I think she needs to know she has a lot of people in her corner. It may help."


"I thought you'd be shoe in for the surgery," Yasuda turned to Lucas, "I didn't think Griffith would shuffle it right under-"

"She didn't," Lucas cut her off, "She won it fair and square. She's good."

"Of course you'd say that," Mika snorted, "You know, you're not exactly what anyone here imagined."

"I'm not?"

"Nope," she sighed, "You screwed up on day one. We thought you'd wash out. Then you made it seem like you were sleeping with Dr. Shepherd-ess and then it turns out she's your aunt. Not to mention the Director of the Residency program is your uncle-"

"Shut up-"

"And by proxy that makes the chief your aunt," Yasuda lit up, "Wait, is that how you got in? Why the hell is everyone related here?"

"No!" Luke exclaimed, "That is not how I got in."

"Okay," Yasuda snorted again, "I guess you're more Adams than Shepherd then, huh? Surgery didn't-"

"Dr. Yasuda?" the chief's voice cut in, "You're needed in the ER."

"I didn't get a page-" the young intern checked her phone before looking back up at the chief. She stared her down until she got the point that she was being kicked out.

Yasuda blinked and quietly stood up. Wordlessly, she left the room.

"You didn't need to do that," Lucas turned back to the OR, "I can handle my own mess."

"I didn't do it for you," Meredith shook her head, "You know those two put up a fight when they saw your application- your own mother put up a fight. I didn't let you in here because you're related to them. You know the truth, so should they."

Lucas said nothing.

"I can't have them saying that I'm playing favorites, either," Meredith turned back to the OR, "How long have they been in there?"

"Um, they're about to finish," he responded as he leaned forward.

The quiet sounds of monitors echoed through the room. Both neurosurgeons concentrated on their work. Amelia decked in her typical purple crub cap with fireworks. Derek in his navy blue checkered cap. His favorite one had been temporarily commandeered by another excellent surgeon. Now it was tucked away safely with the others, waiting for another major surgery be decked out in.

"Okay let's pull the injector out," Derek muttered, "Dr. Shepherd, we're clear?"

"Yes," Amelia muttered, "Stem cells are in."

Meredith watched as the two worked in tandem. They were brilliant together. They had developed a shorthand that was nearly impossible to match.

"I'm not like them," Lucas whispered, "I'm not…up to the standards all the Shepherds have. It's why I didn't want anyone to know I was related to them."

"Is that self-doubt I hear, Dr. Adams?" Meredith turned to him, "That's not what I read in your application."

Lucas turned back to the surgeons below.

"I didn't hire you because you're their nephew. Yes, you remind me a little of both but that's not why I hired you," Meredith continued as she watched, "I hired you for your fight. And if you can fight that luggage you're carrying, you can make your own damn name here"

Meredith turned to him, "I know what having a name with that much weight feels like, remember?"

It was living in shadows. Like you couldn't find yourself amongst giants that were well known by everyone.

Lucas pressed his lips together, "Thanks."

Lucas looked up from the surgery. The woman before him had been on his side since he had been there. She gave him a chance to prove himself and treated him like every intern. But even then, she stood up for him when he needed it.

"Hey," Lucas tilted his head, "You okay?"

"No," Meredith sighed, "I'm not."

She stood and left the room as the interns applauded. The procedure was finished. Now they waited.


"You think it'll work?" Amelia asked as the stepped out of the surgery wing. They wore their caps and surgical robes as the strided through the halls of the hospital. Anxiousness and worry were masked with confidence.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," Derek sighed, "But I hope it does. You're gonna have to bring in Link when we run tests in a few weeks."

"I'll never hear the end of it. I should thank him for giving me the tip on this research though," Amelia chuckled, "Hey that favor you asked? Someone decided to pay me a surprise visit and they're currently roaming around the hospital, I'm sure they would-"

"I can't ask them before I talk to Meredith about it," Derek shook his head as he reached for a tablet.

"I thought you already did-?"

"We tried," he muttered, "And got no where. We keep going back and forth and when it comes to the kids we have to be on the same page."

Amelia nodded, "Okay, well when you're ready- if you're ready, they're upstairs."

"Thanks," Derek made his way to the elevator and watched as the doors closed. He leaned against the railing as he let out a long breathe.

It wasn't that Meredith was not willing to admit Zola had a gift. She was smart, they were sure of it. They were painfully aware of it. But Meredith also knew that her daughter had gone through enough of her own trauma in her small amount of years.

As the doors opened he was greeted by a familiar face. And unexpected but welcome face. Zola perked up at the sight of her father.

"Hey!" Derek smiled. His smile dropped as he realized the time and date, "You're supposed to be in school, what are you doing here?"

He looked up at his sister-in-law who raised a brow, "Someone wanted to catch her father in a surgery today but apparently we're too late."

"Mom had me working on my history assignments in her office but they're boring," Zola rolled her eyes, "Can I please go look at the lab stuff again?"

"Okay, but you still haven't told me why you're here and not at the hospital. Did you-?"

"Dad, please?" Zola looked up at him with her pleading brown wide eyes. Derek was easy and folded at her beck and call just like he did with his mother and his youngest daughter.

But he wasn't completely swayed as he could tell something was wrong he passed the tablet to his daughter, "Do me a favor? Take this to my office and wait for me there? I got something cool to show you."

"Yes!" Zola smiled as she walked the opposite way.

"She had a panic attack," Maggie whispered, "Mer brought her in. She was worried about her and I offered to hand out with her."

"Thanks," Derek nodded, "Did she-? Did Meredith say anything to you?"

"About Zo?" Maggie furrowed her brows, "She's worried. I'm sure you are too. You're doing everything you can, therapy, talking to her teachers. I know you'll figure it out."

A pager went off on her phone. Maggie looked down and sighed deeply, "I gotta go. Let me know if you need anything or if you just need to talk."

She cared. Deeply. Maggie had been a constant in their children's lives. She offered to babysit, take them to outings, and was always up for family dinners. She had insisted on never missing out on any part of their lives since she missed out on her own sister. Not that she resented her own life, but she had grown attached to the extended family she had in Seattle. She was such an integral part that when they revised their will, there was no hesitation in adding her name on to the children's guardianship.

Derek nodded, "Thanks."


"Dr. Bartley," Derek greeted as he opened the doors as he let his daughter in.

"Dr. Shepherd- and mini Dr. Grey Shepherd," Kai greeted back, "How are you? I heard you had a big surgery this morning, Amelia wouldn't shut up about it."

Zola waved with a giggle as she walked towards the same monitor she had already worked on the last time she had sat in with her father.

"She never shuts up," Derek rolled his eyes, "What are you working on? Anything new on the Parkinson's trial?"

"Data analysis for the latest trial," Kai responded as they turned their laptop towards him, "which reminds me, David sends his regards."

Derek leaned over the table and analyzed the data. He honestly enjoyed the science behind this project. He would've been thrilled to watch the project till the very end but the baggage that came with Minnesota was dreadful and made him vomit when he thought about it. Curing Parkinson's would've been amazing. Working with his wife on the project was incredible. And getting closer to a potential breakthrough in curing Alzheimer's was a dream.

"No he doesn't," Derek scoffed, "He wants to kill me because he thinks I held my wife back."

"Can you blame him?," Kai chuckled, "She's been hard to replace. He's always muttering under his breathe that-"

"I did not hold her back," Derek countered fully aware Kai was teasing him, "She made her choice. I was just the supportive husband."

Kai laughed before leaning closer to him.

"I was told you'd need me on a secret project?" Kai whispered as they nudged towards Zola, "With uh your kid. Is there something I should-?"

Zola was oblivious. Mostly. Her attention was on the simulator but Derek was fully aware that Zola was onto everything and everyone.

He lowered his voice, "You know those neuro-cognitive tests and puzzles that are given to identify gifted kids? Neuro-cognitive ability tests? You can run them right?"

"Yeah?"

Derek turned to his daughter and back at Kai, "I need a favor."


"Oh she's gonna kill you," Amelia watched amazed as Zola completed puzzle after puzzle.

"I know."

"Meredith is going to murder you."

"I'm aware," Derek gritted, "but look at her. She's breezing past them."

"It's like I"m watching the U.S. Open," Amelia muttered.

Zola continued to put puzzles together. Her face was covered with determination and complete dedication to her task. Kai watched carefully as they took notes. They provided instructions and occassionaly looked up to steal glances at Amelia. Other times, they'd note the concerned look on Derek's features.

They took notice how there was one doctor in the family missing. Dr. Grey. They figured that Meredith must've left the task to her husband so no questions were asked. But when they took notice Amelia walked in the room, they slightly questioned it. And now Maggie was striding in. Something didn't feel right.

The doors behind the siblings opened, "Hey, you paged?"

Maggie stood between the siblings with her hands deep in her coat pockets. She stared at the scene in front of her as she processed the scene in front of her, "Oh my god, is she-"

"Yeah," Derek nodded once.

"And you-?"

"He did," Amelia answered in a sing song voice.

Maggie was flabbergasted, "Does Meredith know?"

Derek remained silent. Nothing came out. He couldn't even look at her.

This was wrong and he was very well aware of it. His children- their children- were always the highest priority but no matter what, all decisions regarding the kids were made together. He never made them alone and neither did she. It was a mutual unspoken incredibly obvious agreement that was made long ago- except in major emergencies when one or the other couldn't make a decision for higher reasons. Even so, they were usually on the same page.

Public school- but a good one. A really good one.

Sports, art, dance, music, they could do whatever they wanted as long as they loved it.

No football. Soccer yes, football no. They'd both seen and read too many cases with head injuries.

They were on the same page, made equal decisions, talked it out and found middle ground in all things related to the kids.

They were a team.

Except this time, Derek flew solo and overstepped. Big time.

Maggie turned to Amelia with a questioning look.

"Nope," Amelia smirked, "The mother of his children, the other person with fifty percent custody, does not know. Hey, what are you gonna do when she finds out?"

"Why are you making it sound like we're divorced?" Derek glared.

"These tests are the same ones I took when I was a kid," Maggie turned to Derek, "Why doesn't my sister know?"

Derek sighed, "Because she said no."

"So you're doing it anyway?" Maggie almost yelled before both Shepherds shushed her, "Derek, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"The counselor mentioned we should look into it," Derek quietly explained, "Look I know I'm gonna get in trouble with her over this- I am breaking all kinds of parent rules here but I'm desperate."

Maggie turned to Amelia who shrugged, "I'm not getting in the middle of them. I am here as a supportive aunt. But you are the genius here. What do you think?"

Amelia loved her nieces and nephews just as much. She stepped up when her brother couldn't, and she was attached to them just as much as Maggie. Ellis and Scout had an unbreakable bond with the latter often "taking care of him".

She and Maggie were more than just supportive aunts.

Maggie turned to her niece. A flashback crossed her mind as she thought of all those tests she had to endure. The panic attacks. The lack of connection.

It made sense.

"Zola is bright. Brilliant. She's so much wiser than any other kid her age," Maggie conceded, "She's a lot like I was at her age."

Derek watched his sister-in-law as she spoke, "What are thinking, Mags?"

"You're gonna have to bring in Mer."


"What's going on? Did she have another panic attack?" Meredith rushed down the hall as she met Maggie, Kai and Derek at the door of the simulation lab.

Derek crossed his arms as he pushed himself off the wall, "She's fine, she's-"

After a peak in the room, Meredith could see Zola completing puzzles with her Aunt Amelia, "What is she doing in there? Why is she-?"

Maggie reached for her sister, "She uh, completed some puzzles that are used for neurological evaluations."

"Derek-" a warning voice began.

Kai intervened as Derek kept his sight on his shoes like a guilty child, "Meredith, she's aced every single one at a level far higher than any other adult I've seen-"

"I'm aware my kid is smart," Meredith gritted through her teeth, "My question is why my kid is being evaluated without my knowledge or consent?"

Maggie crossed her arms. Kai looked down as they shuffled their weight. Meredith's glare turned to Derek who slowly looked up to answer, "I gave consent."

The anger in her eyes was obvious but she was cut off before she could even respond, "Without telling me?"

"Meredith," Maggie explained, "Based on Kai's time with her, Zola is extremely gifted. Which could partially contribute to her panic attacks."

Derek's kept his eyes on his wife as he searched for any clues or changes in reactions.

"When giftedness is undiagnosed, it can contribute to behavioral changes," Kai explained, "Anxiety, a feeling of being untethered, a feeling that you don't belong-"

"Because you don't," Maggie added, "Her brain does not function like other kids her age, she needs to be around peers who can relate to her and the way she thinks."

Meredith's eyes fixed back to Derek, "I'm gonna go see my kid."

She opened the door and walked in there. Derek watched as her facial features softened at the sight of her daughter.

He was screwed. Very screwed.


Meredith had gone home with Zola and only left a message with one of the nurses. She'd be going home and meet the kids at the house.

Nothing else. No text or call.

Derek sighed as he unlocked the front door of their home. The home he built to grow a long life together.

The house had been dark and his assumption was that everyone was asleep or at the very least in bed.

Maybe they wouldn't fight about it tonight.

Except Meredith walked out of the hallway with a very irritated look on her features, "Deck. Now."

"I know you're pissed-"

"She's still up," Meredith hissed as she pointed at the hallway then at him, "I am not arguing with you here."

She made her way towards the place they often had their conversations. Their discussions, and sometimes, their fights.

Derek closed the door behind him and let out a sigh.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Meredith's voice was low when they were inside. Now, that was very much out of the window.

Derek placed both his hands on his waist as he watched her pace around, "I was thinking that I needed answers-"

"Oh, you needed answers! And you couldn't bother to tell me that you were going to have our child neurologically tested?" Meredith snapped.

Derek rubbed his face, "No because when I bring it up you put your walls up and say you don't want to pressure her! How are we supposed to help our daughter if we don't have all the answers we need!"

Meredith shook her head as her hand gripped the back of the chair she was leaning on,"That's not the issue! That's not why I'm pissed! The issue is you went behind my back and had our daughter assessed without my consent! Not to mention telling the sisters first! You did something without talking to me- your wife- about it!"

"We did talk about it!" Derek exclaimed, "We talked! You just didn't agree-"

"So that gives you the right to just make decisions without telling me!"

"You're not the only one that's scared here. I'm just as scared and I'm in the dark just as much as you are!"

Meredith rubbed her temple annoyed and aggravated at the dilemma. He went behind her back. He didn't tell her. He made a decision regarding their kids without telling her.

He lowered his voice an octave, "If there's a chance I can get an answer-"

"Derek-"

"I'm sure as hell going to get it and you should be on the same page as me!"

"Will you please shut up, for just a second," she raised a brow, "You went behind my back. You did this without telling me."

Derek sighed. All along he knew he was in the wrong. Even if he was desperate. Even if he needed answers. Even if he knew she deserved the courtesy and an equal say, what he did was wrong.

"I'm sorry I went behind your back," he calmly stated, "But I'm not sorry I had her tested. I'd do it again if I had to. I was not going to just sit-"

Meredith scoffed as she crossed her arms defensively across her chest, "You think I'm just sitting there? That's what you think?"

Shit. Derek blinked, "That's not what I said- it's not what I was gonna say at all!"

He really wasn't. But this was a recurring theme with Meredith. The insecurity and feeling that whatever she was doing with her kids wasn't enough. And he'd be lying if he didn't say he never contributed to that.

"You know what," Meredith made her way inside, "You can sit there while I go try to figure out what to do about my daughter. That's how we do things now, isn't it?"

"Meredith-" the door slammed behind her before he could even get another syllable out.

Parenthood. Nothing ever prepared anyone for it.


A/N: Oh Derek, Derek, Derek. What have you done now? Parenthood is interesting. It's complicated. And hard. Mer is in the right in saying she should have a say. Of course she is. Derek is desperate. They both are really.

I saw a tweet a while back saying that these two would totally be in the throws of it and talking about their everyday life like chores and such. I laughed so hard I had to borrow it! If it's yours, thank you and message me so I can give you credit!

Also, I know I don't always respond to each and every one of your reviews but they mean the world to me. Thanks for taking the time!