A/N: Welcome back, readers! This chapter was supposed to be way longer, way way longer, but when I was writing it, I realized that there was going to be a slight jump in time and in situations, so I decided to split it into two parts. They're not exactly parts, I just start something here that will be accomplished in the next chapter, so that's all there is. You will see as you read on, of course. I'll leave you to it!

Chapter 30

Meredith is shuffling papers on her kitchen table, staring at the growing pile on her right, and the very, very short stack at her left.

As soon as Mr. Robinson was admitted in the ER after being mauled by a bear and she diagnosed his glioma, she knew she had to figure out a way to cure gliomas, not just deliver him a death sentence. And she's been toying with the idea for a clinical trial for a while, but now she actually has a patient willing to start and the perfect diagnosis for it.

She's been researching for days, Mr. Robinson seems on board with the idea, and Meredith is sure this will be great. So, the pile of papers currently in front of her is to actually pick her team.

She asked Richard and Ellis to provide the files for all interns and residents, so she can build the best team to recruit patients and to start her trial. She's going at this trying to be as objective as possible, and so far she has only two people that can meet her standards and it blows her mind that they're both brand new doctors: Cristina Yang, who is halfway into her internship, and Derek Shepherd. And even she knows it would be considered the ultimate favoritism if she picked Derek.

Especially since her kitchen table is actually his kitchen table, and she just tucked in his son for the night while Derek is finishing his shift.

They have lived together for a few weeks, but the novelty of it sometimes still surprises her. She finds herself unsure of the placement of objects or marveling at some detail of his house she has always missed. Of course, the biggest adjustment is David, but he seems to love having her here every day.

It's an odd feeling, to have a child in the house, in their space, in her space. She thinks about her own David often, how in only a few days it's his birthday and he's not here to celebrate, but how she has another David in her life now.

In the heat of the moment, Derek wondered if his son was a replacement; for Meredith sharing her life with another David is almost like betrayal. Yet, Derek doesn't know anything and cannot know anything. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

"Crap," she mutters to herself, pinching the bridge of her nose.

At the end of the files, the okayed pile still contains only Yang and Shepherd, the maybe pile a couple of fourth and fifth-year residents, and she has no clue how to make this right. She'll page Yang right away, but she knows she has to discuss this with Derek before they go in. She needs to ask if he'd be okay with the backlash, as well as put strict boundaries in place before they start.

If they do this, they must be professional, no questions asked. She knows she can, and for what she has seen, Derek can, too, but the reminder doesn't hurt. Especially when they'll be under scrutiny of the FDA from beginning to end.

The door opens and closes quietly, and Meredith sighs. It's truth time.

"Honey, I'm home," Derek says, peeking in the kitchen with his goofy grin.

Meredith smiles at him, watching how even though he's being silly, he looks tired, and a bit worn-out.

"Please, don't call me honey," Meredith tells him as he walks back in the kitchen, still in his scrubs.

"Okay, sweetheart." Derek grins, moving closer to kiss her.

Meredith rolls her eyes. "Am I the kind of girl who likes pet names?"

"Of course not. But you're the kind of girl that scrunches up her nose and gets a very indignant frown on her face at pet names, and that's just adorable." He smirks, kissing her again before his face falls a bit. "Remember that old man in the ER from yesterday?"

"The surgery you had with Bailey?"

Derek nods, sitting on the chair next to hers. "He had a stroke. He's brain dead. They just took him off life support."

"Oh, Derek," Meredith murmurs, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

"It's okay. I just like to see your smile when I have this kind of day. And you have no idea how much I needed to come home to you, tonight."

Her heart melts, and she's the one who leans over for a kiss this time.

"I love coming home to you, too," she murmurs against his lips, holding his cheek in her palm as she stares deep into his eyes.

"How was your day?"

"Lots of paperwork," she replies, still touching him, feeling his warm skin under hers.

"Sorry." He smiles, his hand going to her knee to rub slow circles.

"Office days are like that. You'll make peace with it when you're an attending."

Derek hums, leaning into her. "Are you still working?"

"Just finished, really." Meredith smiles, but it's forced. She has no idea how to ask him. It's on the tip of her tongue, but she can't bring herself to say the words out loud.

"Charts?" Derek frowns.

"I want to start a clinical trial. With Mr. Robinson," she says, watching as excitement builds in Derek's face.

"Really? That's awesome!" He grins. "How can I get in?" He laughs.

Meredith exhales loudly. "I...I already picked my people."

"Oh." Derek's face falls.

"Derek...I want you there. We work so well together, and you are the best resident we have. But…"

"But everybody knows we're together." Derek sighs, pulling away from her to lean against the back of the chair.

"And I covered all the names in the charts and just looked at what the people accomplished, and still, only you and Yang made the cut. I have a couple of back-ups, but I'd be royally pissed if I can't have you in my OR."

Derek's smile warms her from the inside out. "Really?"

"Really. I want to be objective, and I know everybody will think you're getting special treatment from me. Or screwing me to get ahead, and I…"

"Let them think that."

"No." Her voice is firm. "It will ruin your reputation forever, Derek. And you can be brilliant."

"They will figure it out I'm there because I'm me, not because I'm your boyfriend. I won't be your boy toy there, we'll actually work together. We'll let facts speak for us."

"Are you sure?" Meredith frowns.

"Of course. It will be hard, but we'll make it. And when we do, we'll celebrate." Derek stands up, opens the pantry, then disappears inside it. Meredith stares at his back as he reaches up, then comes out with a bottle of champagne. "This is for when we get it right. Because we will."

Meredith sighs loudly. She wants to believe him. She believes in her trial, but she's not sure she believes in the fact it won't ruin their careers forever.

"We need to talk to Ellis tomorrow, then. And Richard."

Derek smiles. "Then should I get the tequila, instead?"

Meredith laughs loudly for the first time that day.

Derek sits awkwardly next to Meredith, outside of the Chief's office, waiting for doomsday. All his certainties have disappeared the more this meeting got closer. It's the first time he will see Ellis as his mother-in-law for a tiny bit, not just his Chief of Staff, the first time they are going to discuss their relationship with her, and he's terrified. He's more nervous than he used to be for his prom.

"Derek, whatever she says, I'm sorry." Meredith looks at him, and he stands up. He needs to pace. He cannot stand still anymore.

"I want to do this with you. You are an incredible surgeon, Meredith."

"Dr. Grey."

"Of course. Dr. Grey. Yes."

He strides along the corridor, going back and forth in front of the chair Meredith is sitting in, locking eyes with her, seeing her equally nervous. He should have let her pick someone else.

The door opens and Derek freezes in his spot. Ellis is standing there in her gray suit, her face a mask of emotions, the door welcoming them in.

"Good morning Dr. Shepherd. Dr. Grey." Ellis smiles, probably a fake smile. A wolf in sheep's clothing. "Come on in."

Both he and Meredith take a deep breath, and he lets her go in first, unsure if it's chivalry or self-preservation.

Ellis studies them as if they were CT scans, and Derek tries not to cower too much.

"So, Dr. Grey, why did you request this meeting?"

Meredith exhales loudly. "I've been thinking of a clinical trial to cure malignant gliomas after Mr. Robinson was admitted, and I've decided to start with him. There are studies arguing that a virus could help shrink the tumor when it's in a position that is unreachable with surgery, and I decided to test some of these theories. I have submitted my paperwork to the FDA and I'm waiting for approval."

"Have you found some patients, yet?"

"I asked a few neurosurgeons in the Washington area and I have a list of patients that could fit my criteria. I'm waiting for the approval to actually call the patients and ask if they want to be a part of this trial. I don't want to give them false hope."

"Good. So what is Dr. Shepherd doing here?" Ellis asks, and Derek can almost see her smirk. Gosh, maybe she loves to see them suffer? He still hasn't figured out the woman.

"I have already talked to Dr. Yang's chief resident and asked if she could spare her for my trial, but I also want Dr. Shepherd on board."

"What about more advanced residents?" Ellis frowns.

"There are Cahill and Herron that might be good candidates, but Dr. Shepherd is my first pick."

"Is that because you're sleeping with him?"

Derek's eyes widen at how bold Ellis is being. Okay, yeah, this is vicious.

"Of course not!" Meredith shrieks. "He's dedicated, he's smart, he has a vision that none of the other residents have, no matter his experience. Yes, he's green, he's a baby surgeon, and while Cahill and Herron have the knowledge, they don't have the accuracy for this."

"Then prove it to me." Ellis challenges her.

"What?" Meredith blinks, thoroughly confused. This is not good. Derek worries at the leg of his scrubs, sure that he'll poke a hole in the fabric before this meeting is over.

"Hold a competition, challenge the residents. Who wins takes part in the trial." Ellis is unshakable, it's almost like she is not even asking anymore, just demanding.

"But I already examined their files, and…" Meredith is cut off. Derek is not sure if it's a good idea, because he already hears hints of panic in her tone, or not. Maybe she should let Ellis win.

"Maybe they're the best on paper, but they're horrible in real life. I've had many students like that. Prove it to me that they're the best in both and you can have Yang and Shepherd and whoever you want. Even the janitors, if they make the cut."

Derek watches the staring contest between mother and daughter, between Chief and stubborn attending.

"Dr. Grey, I know of your dating history with Shepherd. I know it will not interfere with your work decisions," Ellis says, her tone softer, less professional.

"It won't."

"I won't let our relationship jeopardize Dr. Grey's trial, Dr. Grey," Derek says, speaking up for the first time. His voice doesn't sound as confident as he would like in his head, but this has to do.

"Good. So far you two haven't caused me all that many problems, but I will not hesitate to report you otherwise." Ellis is back to her professional tone, her mask still up, though she has a small smirk on her face.

"Of course." Derek looks down.

"Dr. Grey, remember the dot on the President's nose? Use that. Then come back to me with the results and we'll choose your team accordingly. I will also give a heads' up to Bokhee."

"Wonderful," Meredith says, nodding. She doesn't look very relieved, though. He knows she loves to have Bokhee as her scrub nurse, so at least something will go her way.

"I'll see you later, Dr. Grey. Dr. Shepherd, please a word."

Derek gives a furtive glance to Meredith, worried about what it will happen. She tries her best to reassure him, though she's leaving him alone with Ellis. He's sure the older Grey won't be so kind to him.

"Bye, Dr. Grey. Thank you," Meredith says, exhaling loudly as she approaches the exit.

"You're welcome."

Derek stares at Ellis as they hear the door closing behind Meredith's back.

"Derek," she begins, and the shift in her personality is incredible. Ellis loosens her hard stance and her eyes turn softer, her face not a mask of emotions anymore.

"Yes?" His voice is still not coming out right, though.

"I appreciate you being here, reporting this situation. Are you sure she wants you there for your talent?"

"I hope so?" he hesitates. He has no clue where this is going.

"Prove it to me, then. Let's go."

Derek is scared of following Ellis through the corridors of Seattle Grace, but he's not going to say anything. He receives a few weirded out stares as Ellis struts all the way to the skills lab with him following her blindly like a puppy.

The Chief takes a surgical microscope, sets the viewfinder, then grabs a dollar bill and a red Solo cup with a hole at the bottom. She flips the cup, sets the bill under it and puts the microscope over the hole at the bottom of the red cup. She grabs a marker, sets the viewfinder, then dips it into the hole.

When she steps back and removes the bill, George Washington has a red dot on his nose.

"Your turn," Ellis says, handing him the marker and putting a new bill under the cup.

"What?" Derek stares at the set-up, puzzled.

"Derek, this is what Meredith is going to ask her residents to perform. I need to see it first hand that she's not going to cheat to have you in her trial."

"You think she would cheat?"

"No, Ellis would never believe this. But Dr. Grey does."

Derek sighs. He vaguely remembers trying this in medical school, something about keeping the right distance, the right position in front of the viewfinder, but he's one-hundred percent sure he's not going to pass the Chief's test.

He takes a deep breath as he steps forward. He stares at George Washington through the viewfinder, puts the felt tip in his line of vision to gauge the distance, willing himself to stop shaking. It's luckily an invisible shaking, or he's sure he won't hit George's nose. Ever.

He threads the marker through the hole, trying not to blink as the low thud of the tip hitting the solid steel of the tray marks the bill. Derek slowly removes the marker, watching as he poked an eye out of the first President.

He failed. He won't make it in.

Except, when he looks up, Ellis seems almost pleased.

"Okay, this is impressive. Have you ever done microsurgery before?" Ellis looks thoroughly surprised and confused.

"I tried this a couple of times in med school. I think."

"Okay. I understand what Meredith sees in you, now."

"What? I missed his nose, Dr. Grey."

"Derek, when first-year residents try this the first time, they don't even make it inside the hole, sometimes." Ellis is almost laughing now. Derek is utterly confused.

"Oh." He feels his cheeks heat. Was that a compliment, from Ellis Grey?

"Meredith is the only one that I've seen in training that got this close to the guy's nose first time out of the gate."

Derek relaxes. "She is an incredible surgeon. I'd be lucky to be half as great as she is. Or you are," he adds quickly. Stroking her ego will win him more points.

"You would be." Ellis nods. "Meredith is a wonderful woman, too."

"I know, Dr. Grey." He can't help the corners of his lips turning up at that. He knows how wonderful Meredith is.

"Ellis, now." She sighs loudly. "She's also complicated."

"Yes. Very. But she's special." He knows the register has changed, even if she hadn't asked him to address her differently. He knows that even if they're in scrubs, this woman is a mother, not his Chief of Staff.

"What happened to David…" Ellis sighs and Derek swears he sees her blink back tears. "I miss that little baby too, and I barely saw him. And for Meredith to go through that by herself...I couldn't let that happen. So please, take care of her. I never took care of her enough."

"I plan to. I...I love her."

Ellis nods, staring at him. "Be patient with her. She's worth it."

"I know," Derek says, and finally smiles. "She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

"More than your son?" Ellis questions.

"Just about up there with him. It's hard to pick a favorite. But I'm so glad I have her in my life." A grin automatically spreads on his lips.

"Good. It's David's birthday in two days. Her David."

"I remember," Derek says, matching her somber tone.

"We wanted to have Meredith over for dinner, spend some time together. Would you like to join us? Me and Richard and Maggie?"

At first, the invitation stuns him. This is what families do. Being there means being family. Does Ellis consider him family already? Is she giving him the benefit of the doubt?

"Does Meredith know I'll be there?"

"No. She doesn't even know you're coming over." Ellis smiles softly. "She needs to know she's not alone."

Derek hesitates. While he agrees to show Meredith she has people is a perfect idea, ambushing her with a family dinner might not be the best idea, maybe.

"Derek, if I ask her to take you, she will freak herself out and talk herself out of it. I know her, and she'll never let us meet on such a day. So if she doesn't know, she might figure out that we will not chase you away."

He smiles. For being an absentee mother for most of Meredith's life, Ellis surely knows a lot about her daughter.

"Am I supposed to ask her to dinner and come over?" Derek frowns.

"Maybe. Yes."

Derek stares at Ellis for a long minute, debating it. But the idea of Meredith having more people makes him give in. "I'll see what I can do," he says. She needs more people is what he thinks.

"If it's less suspicious, take your son with you, too. We won't mind."

Derek's eyes widen. "I'll think about it. I'm sure my mother won't mind babysitting if I tell her what that night is and we want some quiet time. David is not the easiest kid to get to know, so maybe it's best if we try that on another day."

"Of course. I trust you with this. And with Meredith."

"I know," Derek says, picturing himself in her shoes, the first time David will bring home a girl, or at least the first time Derek knows his son is in a stable relationship.

But that is way too far off in the future, and he wants to focus on the now, the today. Nothing else.

Ellis' pager beeps, interrupting the moment.

"Okay, that's Meredith, she's ready. Let's go meet her in Conference Room 3."

Derek blinks, still reeling from the whiplash of the conversation with Ellis Grey, but he docily follows her. He hopes he's not too drained to impress Meredith with his skills by the time they get to the real test.

Meredith stares at the cream of the crop of residents and interns sitting before her, waiting for their turn to poke George Washington on his nose. They all look eager and a bit frightened, but some of their eyes are shining with the opportunity before them. A couple of them look so tired Meredith is sure they won't even put the marker inside the hole.

Her eyes linger on Derek, her Derek, even though he's acting like Dr. Shepherd now. He's focused on whoever is at the microscope, watching their technique. She's not sure he'll be able to ace this test. She'll give it to her mother, though, this is a good way to be objective about this, and the idea never even crossed her mind.

She needs pointers herself, apparently.

One by one, her favorites go by, and the only surprise is Green, third-year resident, who manages to hit the President's chin. Cahill and Herron, as well as Yang, have all passed, but she's not surprised. Cahill is a solid resident, way too interested in Plastics, but he's careful and accurate. Herron is perky, way too perky, but she can hold her own.

Meredith holds her breath when it's Derek's turn to step in front of the instruments. She gives a furtive look at her mother, who is leaning against the wall with arms crossed and a smug smirk to the side of the candidates, looking over.

Derek's hands are careful, slow, his shoulders relaxed, his fingers precise.

His dot ends on the forehead.

Meredith exhales loudly, while inside she's celebrating. It's not common for a brand new resident to hit so close to the target, and she was afraid he wouldn't make it. But of course, Derek is always full of surprises.

There are only a handful more candidates, then she collects the dollar bills and announces who will take part in the trial.

She gives the lucky starting five a brief speech, her eyes trying not to linger too long on Derek, as Ellis supervises.

Meredith is beyond ready to start this trial.

The three residents fire question after question, Yang listens raptured to every word she's saying, just like Derek. He's the one who lingers the most, and when everyone has been dismissed, he's still there, waiting for her.

"Congratulations!" She smiles at him, and he responds with a brilliant grin.

"Glad I made the cut." He smirks, clearly confident in his abilities. All of the tension of before has drained out of him, and his eyes are sparkling, only dulled by tiredness. It's just about the end of his shift, and he looks ready to collapse.

"Are you going home now?" she asks, smiling at him.

Derek nods. "I'll stop at the store with David if he's not too overwhelmed. Want anything? Otherwise, I'll order takeout when we get home."

"You guys can pick. You know what I like."

Derek smiles at her, and warmth envelops her. It's been such a natural transition to move in with him. Not always easy, but definitely natural. They have adapted to laundry tossed out of bins, different musical tastes, different morning rituals, but it feels good to share her days with Derek and David. And it's especially perfect to slip into bed with Derek every night and curl up in his strong embrace.

"What did my mother tell you after I left?" Meredith sighs, squeezing his shoulder, needing the contact.

"Oh," he says, exhaling. "She wanted to make sure you were not rigging this test."

It feels like a stab in her heart.

"It's not that your mother doesn't trust you," he's quick to add, seeing her face, probably. "She clearly said that Ellis believes you, it's Dr. Grey who needs to be a pain in the ass."

He grins, moving closer to her until he's standing barely a breath away from her face.

"She's trusting us with this trial?"

"Yes. She knows we won't let feelings interfere with work. Also, I think she likes me." His smile is smug, his eyes sparkling, and a giggle escapes her lips as she hits his chest lightly.

"You're so full of yourself."

"Probably too tired to filter my ego." He cups her cheek and she leans into him. "I'm excited for you, Mer."

She grins, blinking slowly. "I'm excited for you. First big trial."

"First of many," he says, laughing.

"I have no doubts."

They both sigh, standing there, relishing this moment of peace. Her pager interrupts the quiet.

"Okay, I need to go," she says reluctantly, leaning in to quickly kiss him.

"I'll see you at home, then."

"See you later," she replies, winning another kiss from Derek before they resume the hectic pace of their lives.

A/N: I apologize if this ending is somewhat rushed and adds next to nothing to the story itself, but you'll see how this story will go as we head into the next chapter, with the trial and the anniversary recurring...Big things are happening, stay tuned! And thank you for reading yet another chapter of this story. YOu guys are the best motivation to keep writing this!