A/N: Chapter 5 is up. Thank you for the reviews. I do not own Grey's Anatomy or its characters. Please review!
It had been a month since Meredith was appointed Chief of General Surgery and Derek had been appointed Head of Research. They had gotten into a good rhythm in their regular work days. They had hired a nanny to help them with their morning chores and to pick Zola from kindergarten and bring her to the hospital. Derek would then either bring the kids to his office or back home by late afternoon. Meredith and Derek also made it a point to have lunch together whenever possible.
The surgical department was slowly transitioning under Dr. Bailey's leadership as well as they were making strict protocols to be followed when the main leadership would be absent. Each department's doctors were given a schedule which was to be maintained.
Derek and Meredith were walking inside the hospital with Bailey listening to him blabbering, just having dropped Zola to kindergarten when a voice familiar to Derek interrupted them.
"Hey, baby brother!" Kathleen's voice came.
Derek not expecting to see his sister's did a double-take when he realised all three of his elder sister's were standing in front of them.
"And that must be baby Bailey. Come here munchkin." Nancy took Bailey from Meredith's hands.
"Hello Meredith. It's good to finally meet you." Kathleen said, still a little wary of her. Meredith could only smile in response. Liz, having a better relationship with her sister-in-law, embraced her after meeting Derek.
"What are the three of you doing here?" Derek asked them.
"You're getting married Derek. We're here to help." Kathleen said.
"well, you didn't invite us last time, so we thought we'd at least come in advance this time, you know, incase you change your mind." Nancy snickered.
"You know we didn't get married that time." Derek replied, subtly grasping and squeezing his wife's hand.
"No. You got married on a post-it note. Talk about commitment issues." Kathleen retorted.
"It was the best wedding we could have asked for." Derek tried justifying.
"You waited a year to get it legalised, Derek. What was stopping you from going that day or the next?" Lis asked, wanting the answer herself. Both Meredith and Derek knew what had happened that day. Meredith, not sure of being able to control her emotions, left saying she had a surgery.
"One of her best friend's died that day." Derek calmly told them. "Let's drop Bailey off at day-care and head to my office."
Thankfully Meredith was paged to the ER as soon as she had changed into scrubs. She rushed down and was guided to Trauma Room 2 where she met Alex and Amelia.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Twelve-year old, girl. Fell form the balcony of her home. Fluid in her belly, possible brain bleed." the intern brought her upto speed.
"Ultrasound shows fluid in the lower quadrant. Her ribs seem broken. Page Dr. Torres." Meredith instructed. "Take her up for a full body CT."
As soon as the three attendings got on the elevator, Alex asked Meredith if she was okay. He had noticed a change in her demeanour as soon as she had entered the Trauma room.
"Just peachy" came her reply. "I mean, is it so difficult to give someone notice before you drop by? never, never as anyone of his sister's ever informed us before hand."
"Thank you for telling me how you feel." Amelia sarcastically remarked.
"Wasn't talking about you. Nancy literally snatched Bailey out of my arms. I mean... That poor boy has never even met you. Calm down." Meredith said exasperated.
"Nancy is here?" Amelia asked, scared.
"Oh yes. And Kathleen and Liz." Meredith replied. Alex just put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"I'm not prepared. I thought I had time before I needed to face them." Amelia ranted.
"Welcome to the club." was all that Meredith could say.
"What do the three of you want?" Derek point-blanked asked his sister's when they entered his and Meredith's office.
"we want to help Meredith plan the vow-renewal" Liz replied trying to diffuse the situation. She knew from his voice that her brother was pissed.
"It's planned. Her best friend is taking care of the venue in Switzerland. The hotel is booked. Meredith's dress has been bought. Cristina has her bride's maid dress as well. I have my tux ordered and Owen has his."
"Just one bride's maid and groom's man.?" Nancy asked confused.
"yes. And Alex will stand behind Meredith after walking her down the aisle." Derek explained.
"Who is Alex?" Kathleen asked.
"Meredith's best friend."
"A guy best friend?" Nancy remarked.
"Yes. Got a problem?" Derek challenged.
Just then the door to the office opened and Meredith entered. "Umm… Amelia got called to the ER for another case. She was wondering if you could take over the one with me. I can page Nelson if you can't." Meredith moved to take her lab coat and scrub cap from her desk.
"I'll join you. It's been a week since I've cut. Where is the patient?" Derek asked getting ready.
"I told Edwards to take her up for a CT. Alex is with her." Meredith explained.
"A kid? What happened?" As soon as she said Alex, it meant a kid.
"Fell down from the balcony." Meredith replied. Kids always hit them differently, especially after having two of their own. "I paged Callie as well. She wasn't in yet but will meet us in the OR."
"You're leaving us?" Kathleen asked shocked.
"You can't expect me to stop doing my job just because you all dropped by unannounced." Derek replied.
"Gee, baby brother. You weren't this unhappy to see us when you were married to Addison. You know, actually married." Nancy snickered.
Meredith paused what she was doing hearing this. It had been sometime since she was compared to her husband's first wife, but it was hurtful, nonetheless. Derek gave an angry glance towards Nancy, walked to Meredith took her hand in his and walked out the door without a word to them.
He pulled her to the nearest on-call room and embraced her. "I'm sorry. I did not know they were coming."
"I know you didn't." Meredith whispered. "But Nancy hates me just the same."
"Don't listen to her. You are my wife. I love you. It does not matter what she says. You, and the kids are all that matters." Derek told her holding her face in his hands and looking at her.
"I know. I love you too." Meredith said hugging him once again and just wanting to be close to him. "Let's go, save a life." She said after a minute, letting go.
They entered the viewing room attached to the CT and met with Alex. There was bleed in the abdomen area as well as the head which would require evacuation. They took her to the OR and began operating. Just as the three of them were operating, engrossed in their work and exchanging few words, a familiar voice came from the edge of the scrub room.
"Imagine my surprise when all three people I wanted to meet first were stuck in the same OR for another three hours. I couldn't wait so I came here. Don't tell the Chief. I am yet to ask for privileges"
"Cristina!" "Yang!" Came their calls.
"What are you doing here?" Asked Meredith wanting badly to go and embrace her but now wanting to re-scrub again.
"Well, remember the case I told you about? We need to do some prep for it. Together. I knew you wouldn't want to leave Derek and the kids for a longer time, so I came here." She explained.
"Why do I think it's more complicated than you told me." Meredith mused.
"It is. Complete this surgery and then we will talk." Cristina told her.
"I won't be getting my wife to myself in Zurich, will I, Cristina?" Derek asked her, knowing the answer already.
"Of course not. I have the whole week planned for Mer, Alex and myself. You are on kid duty." She instructed Derek. Derek just smiled under his mask knowing very well that any argument would be futile. "By the way, I'm staying at your house or do I need to get my bags transferred to the frat house?"
"You're staying with us." Meredith firmly said.
"How will you house so many people, Mer?" Alex reminded her of the sister's waiting for them in the office.
Meredith groaned. "How else is here?" Cristina asked.
"Derek's sisters." Meredith replied.
"Which one?" Cristina asked.
"All of them."
"Shit, seriously?" Cristina asked sorry for her friend. "Did you know?" she questioned Derek.
"Of course not. I wouldn't throw Meredith to the wolves without notice." Derek defended himself. "And Cristina will stay with us. Those three can stay at a hotel. The upper level of the house is till not ready."
"You sure? I can stay with Alex." Cristina said, understanding their situation.
"Cristina. It's your room." Derek firmly told her. "Otherwise I would have my wife leaving me and joining you at the frat house." He ended with a joke. Derek's side of surgery got over before the rest. He quickly discarded his gloves and gave Cristina a brief hug before excusing himself to go talk to his sisters.
When Derek reached his office, he was again surprised as his mom was there as well. She told him that when she came to know of her daughters' plan, she didn't want to be left out. Derek groaned thinking it was going to be a long day. Thankfully, his mom liked Meredith and would hopefully keep Nancy in check.
Soon it was time for lunch. It took his sister's and mom to the cafeteria hoping that Meredith would still be in surgery. But, just as soon as they sat with their meals, he saw his wife and her best friend enter the cafeteria. His mom, not knowing what happened before her arrival, went to greet her daughter-in-law.
"Carolyn, what a surprise!" Meredith returned the hug, actually liking the older woman in front of her.
"Who is this?" She asked glancing towards Cristina.
"This is Cristina, my best friend and maid of honor. Cristina, Derek's mom, Carolyn." She introduced the two of them.
"It is your house in Zurich where the ceremony will be held, right?" She asked.
'Yes. I just moved there less than a year back." Cristina answered.
"I can't wait to see it." Carolyn smiled. "Why don't the two of you join us for lunch." Meredith not wanting to offend Derek's mother accepted the invite subtly telling Cristina to join her.
Meredith and Cristina brought their lunches to the table, which made Derek frown a little.
"Mer, just the bread?" He asked her concerned.
"Yeah, there was only fish available. And…" She left off.
Derek understood in a second. "Here, take this." He passed her his meal of chicken. "I'll get fish for myself."
"But, you don't like fish for lunch, either Derek." Kathleen interrupted.
"It's fine." Derek said, not wanting to indulge her and got up.
"How many sacrifices will Derek have to make for you?" Nancy questioned Meredith angrily. "he even left the job for President for you."
Derek rushed to the table. "That's enough, Nancy."
"Meredith, dear, you liked fish when I was here last time." Carolyn asked her soothingly.
"I am not being able to keep it down right now." Meredith explained.
"She doesn't need to explain. She doesn't want fish. That's it." Derek told them with a tone of finality. "Stay out it."
"Child, I was just…" Carolyn tried to explain.
"I get it Ma. But please…" Derek took a seat beside Meredith and rested his left arm across her shoulder.
"Derek, you eat this. I'll be fine with bread." Meredith tried pushing tray towards him.
"Meredith, eat. Bread is not enough; you need the protein." Derek told her.
"But…"
"Meredith, eat, or I will ask Bailey to take you off duty." Derek blackmailed her. He didn't like doing it, but her health was his top priority. Meredith looked towards Cristina for support.
"I'm with him on this. You need to eat." Cristina shrugged. Meredith looked away annoyed. Nancy looked closely at Meredith. Derek's overprotectivness, her friend's agreement with Derek, not being able to keep it down... it all clicked.
"Are you pregnant?" She asked.
"Yes, I am." Meredith replied, not being able to keep the secret hidden any longer.
"That's great. Another grandchild." Carolyn exclaimed.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Nancy asked.
"Was it your intention of telling just one of us while we were here and ask that person to not tell the entire family." Kathleen questioned.
"Enough." Derek half-shouted. Meredith put her hand on his arm trying to calm him down. Below the table, Cristina held her hand in support.
Meredith took a deep breadth and replied. "Yes I didn't want many people to know about the pregnancy. This one, well I didn't feel like telling you all seeing your behaviour towards me. With Bailey, I didn't tell anyone except Derek for a very long time. In fact, Liz was the first to know barring Derek."
"But why may we ask, was there a doubt of paternity." Nancy snidely asked.
Derek took a deep breadth. "Meredith, you don't have to say anything. Let's..." He couldn't believe Nancy would make such a remark.
Meredith interrupted him. "Because when you've already lost one child before your husband knew about its existence on the day you see that said husband getting shot point-blank on the chest, you get a little doubtful of your own body's ability to support your child. That's why." Saying this she got up and went away.
"Happy?" Derek asked, livid. He too got up and followed his wife, needing to make sure she was okay.
"You all have no idea what the both of them have gone through. None. You might not like Meredith but questioning their love. You have no right to do that because you haven't seen it. You did not see Derek broken when Meredith had drowned and was almost dead. You didn't hold Meredith back while she saw Derek getting shot. Those two, they're proof that love exists. So, get off your high horse and either accept Meredith as Derek's wife or you have do not get to enter my house for the ceremony." Cristina told in a calm but strict voice.
Derek rushed to find his wife, she was thankfully sitting in their office looking out the window.
"Meredith..." He turned her chair so she would face him. He saw the tears running down her face and immediately felt the anger towards his sister increase ten-fold. "Get up" He gently held her hands and made her stand so he could pull her into an embrace. He rested himself on her desk and made Meredith stand between his legs, to reduce the space between them. He soothingly rubbed his hand on her head trying to calm her down.
"Meredith, you need to calm down. So much stress isn't right for the baby." He whispered.
"They all hate me, Derek. Your family hates me." She replied, crying.
"It doesn't matter. And, my mom doesn't hate you, nor does Amelia. And, I happen to love you. More than anyone else." He told her. "Block it all out, Mer. I'm sorry they are hurting you. God, I'm gonna disinvite them. I can't..."
"Then they will hate me more." Meredith whispered.
"I'm not gonna do it for you, but for me. Cause if I wanna remain sane and enjoy that week with my wife, I cannot have their attitude and remarks." Derek told her.
"But, I'm gonna be with Cristina." Meredith joked.
"Really, so I won't get my wife at all that whole week, huh?" Derek pouted, his eyes smiling.
"Nope. We have plans." Meredith laughed.
"Well then. Zola, Bailey and I will have fun. Without you."
"You can't have fun without me." Meredith said, pretending to be strict.
"You can enjoy with your friends but I can't?" Derek asked, playfully.
"Nope. That's the way it is." Derek had successfully improved Meredith's mood. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She wanted to just stay like this forever and never leave. Derek simply pulled her tighter and rested his head on her's, relishing the close proximity.