Hi everyone! Thanks for your patience! Life has been a little crazy lately but I hope you enjoy this next chapter
"Christina, I told you, I need to leave for Thatcher & Susan's in an hour. I don't have time to do this right now." Meredith complained.
Christina had insisted on showing Meredith the house she found for them to rent next semester today despite Meredith's many attempts to get out of it.
"Relax Mer, we're almost there" Christina told her distracted trying to decipher the updated route her GPS gave her while driving.
"You said that 20 minutes ago. I don't want to live this far away from campus, and I bet Izzie, George and Alex won't either" Meredith told her crossing her arms.
"Just give me 2 more minutes. If we don't find it, we'll go home."
"Fine" Meredith relented
"Hey, this is for you. You couldn't keep your legs closed, so now we need more space."
Meredith laughed "Whatever"
"Oh Mer, I think this is it!" Christina exclaimed putting her car in park.
The outside of the house was painted a periwinkle blue and looked massive from where they were standing. It was homey with neighbors on both sides. There was a white picket fence that enveloped the back yard and fresh flowers planted outside.
"Should we knock?" Meredith asked her friend
"Yeah, they're expecting us." Christina said knocking on the front door.
A woman answered smiling "You must be Christina & Meredith. Welcome in!" she told them.
They exchanged pleasantries and then the woman left them alone to explore the house.
"So, what do you think?" Christina asked
"It's big" Meredith responded
"It won't feel as big when there's 5 of us living here plus a baby"
"That's true." Meredith said taking it all in
"You don't seem excited about this."
"It's just….. a lot of change really fast."
"I know but Mer… you have to face reality. We need the space and everyone's agreed. The rent is actually more affordable with 5 of us than what we're paying now. It's kind of helping us all out."
"Do you think that I should talk to Derek first?" Meredith asked biting her lip
Christina sighed annoyed "If you want but do it fast. There's a lot of interest in this place and we need to let them know."
"Just give me a sec." Meredith told her friend while pulling out her phone. She found his name in her contacts and pressed call.
"Hey you" Derek answered
"Hey, do you have a second to talk."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Christina and I are looking at a house to rent right now."
"You're renting a house with Christina?" Derek asked confused
"Yes…well maybe. We're just checking it out right now. It has a lot of space though and my friends Izzie, George and Alex are going to live with us too. It has 5 bedrooms which is perfect honestly. I just thought maybe I should check in with you first."
"When does the lease start?" Derek asked
"In January and then we would sign a year and a half so that we can have it until graduation."
"So, the baby would live there…"
"Hence, why I called you."
"I don't know Mer. I guess I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. I figured maybe you and I would get a place together, but my lease isn't up with Mark until August. I wasn't necessarily planning to stay in Rhode Island after graduation but… things are different now."
"We need to let them know. There's a lot of interest in this place."
"Is it safe?"
"It looks pretty safe... yeah."
Derek paused "If it's what you want to do than I support you. But Mer, we really need to sit down and figure out a plan here."
"I know."
"What are you doing tonight?" he asked her
"Having dinner with my dad and his wife. I'm going to tell them."
"Let me come with you."
"What?"
"Meredith, we're doing this together all of it. I should be there when you tell them."
"I just don't know that it's a good idea. I'm not sure how they'll react."
"Exactly. You need support. Let me be there for you." He told her firmly
"Okay. Can you be ready in 30 minutes? I'm running so late already but I can come pick you up."
"Yes. Just let me know when you're here."
"I will. Bye Derek"
Meredith called her family on the way to their place to let them know that she was going to be late and that she was bringing a friend. Derek sat beside her in his red shirt that he wore the night they met. It finally felt like they were doing something together as a normal couple rather than two strangers that happened to make a baby together.
Derek reached for her hand and was surprised when she took it and laced her fingers through his.
"I'm nervous" Meredith admitted sheepishly
"I am too to be honest"
"The relationship with my dad is pretty new. I'm not sure how this will affect it."
"Mer, he's your dad. He's going to love you no matter what."
"I don't think you understand. He left me and my mom when I was five. He moved across the country and I looked him up last semester. It was me pushing for a relationship. He has a whole other family, new wife, new daughter- my sister, well half-sister Lexie. You'll meet her tonight."
"Mer- I promise it will be alright."
Meredith sighed and absentmindedly placed her hand on her bump.
Derek glanced from the road to Meredith and a small smile etched on his face. It was all going to be okay he thought.
"So, what's the game plan here?" she asked him after a few moments of silence
"Game plan for tonight?" he asked confused
"Yes!" Meredith responded as if he should know
Derek laughed "Well I think we say hello, make small talk and then it's pretty customary to eat whatever food is prepared."
Meredith rolled her eyes "No, they're going to want to know what we are. Like are you just my friend sperm donor here or…" she trailed off
"Oh." Derek commented realizing what she meant.
"I think it's more along the lines of the or option." He finished
"So… we tell them that we're together?"
"We are together." Derek told her
"Not really." Meredith responded
"We're doing this together. I like you. I think you like me. We're together in some way."
Meredith smirked "I don't really like you all that much" she told him jokingly
"You will" he responded confidently.
Meredith rolled her eyes "Make this right turn and then we'll pretty much be here."
Meredith & Derek made their way inside her dad and Susan's house and made short pleasantries. They sat beside each other on the couch infront of Thatch and Susan. Meredith looked around for Lexie and spied her hanging by the staircase shyly.
"Lexie, this is my… this is Derek"
Lexie instantly blushed but made her way over. Meredith figured it was either because she thought Derek was cute or because the last time Lexie saw her was when Lexie picked her up from her married professors house right after they had sex.
Derek was oblivious "Nice to meet you" he told her with a grin
"Uhh, you too" she told him with a shy smile
Meredith rolled her eyes inwardly
"So Meredith, how long have you and Derek been together" Susan asked cheerfully
"Not long" Meredith responded shortly
"Oh?" Susan said still smiling
"Not too long no, but I'd like to think we hit it off right away. Sometimes you don't need a lot of time to know" Derek told Susan smiling
"That's true! Susan and I met and within a few months got engaged" Thatcher piped up
Meredith scoffed. Derek put his arm around her.
"Well Derek, we're certainly happy Meredith brought you over." Susan commented
"It's been so great getting to know eachother again these past few months" Thatcher said looking at Meredith.
Meredith shifted uncomfortably
"So, what's for dinner?" she asked. She could feel the hormones raging and she wanted to cry.
"We made a lasagna and salad oh and some fresh garlic bread too!" Susan told her
"Lexie helped. She's a pretty good chef" Thatcher chimed in
Lexie rolled her eyes "Not really" she told them
"That sounds great!" Derek told them genuinely
"Speaking of which, looks like the oven timer just went off. Lexie can you help me get dinner plated?" Susan asked getting up to go to the kitchen
"I'll help" Meredith told her before Lexie could respond.
Meredith quickly got up and Derek took the moment to really look at her. She was stunning to him. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back and her thin frame looked beautiful in the short blue dress she wore. For a second he could see the outline of her bulging stomach in the flowy dress she wore, and he knew it wasn't much longer they could keep their little secret. He really didn't want to keep it a secret anymore. He didn't care much what other people thought about the situation and although this wasn't how he pictured having a family – he was still happy about it nonetheless.
He heard Meredith and Susan clattering in the kitchen as he made small-talk with her dad. Inwardly, he wondered how he would take the news. He was a bit nervous to have that conversation, but he knew Meredith was ready for it.
At dinner they talked about a slew of topics. Everything from Derek's major to his family to Meredith's friends. It was easy talking to Susan and Thatcher and it was the family Meredith always wanted but never had. As the evening grew later, they all hung out in the living room laughing and joking around.
Derek caught Meredith's eye signaling that she was ready to share their news. He straightened himself up and instantly felt nervous. He grabbed her hand as she cleared her throat.
"So um Thatcher… Susan um there's a reason I brought Derek with me tonight." Meredith started
Susan looked at them warmly in anticipation of what Meredith was going to say
"So Derek and I met the first week of school and kind of hit it off and um well… we are um.. well I.. I'm pregnant" Meredith told them her hand absentmindedly cupping her stomach.
It was silent for a few moments. Susan broke the silence with an encouraging smile "Well that's great." She told them warmly
"It was definitely a surprise" Meredith told her
"That's okay. The best things in life always are. Right Thatch" Susan said
"Oh, um yes." He responded seeming distracted.
"Do you need anything? Money? Diapers? A place to stay?" Thatcher asked
"Oh um no. I think we have everything under control" Meredith said looking at Derek
"I'm going to take care of them." Derek told Thatcher
Thatcher nodded 'Good" he said
"How far along are you?" Lexie asked
Meredith blushed "A little over 3 months" Meredith told her. She could feel them all doing the math in their head.
"We don't know what we're having yet." Derek told them seeming to answer the next question
It was quiet for a few moments "So… do you two want to come back for Thanksgiving. It's next week." Susan asked
"Meredith are you going to see Ellis?" Thatcher asked
"I might wait until Christmas. Derek invited me to see his family for Thanksgiving." Meredith stated.
"Come by the week after then, both of you for dinner. Let's make it a weekly thing." Susan stated
Meredith looked at Thatcher who smiled and nodded "Okay." She replied
"We should get going." Meredith told everyone.
They said their goodbyes and Lexie walked out with them
Meredith turned to her and Lexie hugged her closely
"This is a good thing." Lexie whispered to her
Meredith sighed "I hope so" she whispered back
"You'll see." Lexie told her with a smile
Meredith gave her a smile. "See you Lex" she told her as Derek opened the car door for her.
Derek walked Meredith up to her apartment holding her hand the whole way.
"Tonight was good." He stated
"It feels more real now doesn't it?" Meredith asked him
"It does. I think that's a good thing though."
Meredith nodded. "So Thanksgiving…"
"It's next week. The invitation is still open." Derek told her
"We should tell your family together. It's the right thing."
Derek grinned "I think so too."
"You really think we can do this?" Meredith asked
"I do." Derek told her sincerely
"Okay." She whispered her eyes glimmering with un-shed tears
Derek cupped her cheek and kissed her softly.
"I'm in this and I'm not going anywhere." He told her
Meredith nodded.
"And I heard you about taking it slow. I want that too."
Meredith smiled "Goodnight Derek" she told him.
"Goodnight Mer"
Next Chapter- Meredith meets the Shepherds!