III – Part 27

Derek entered Beck's home waiting for her to direct him as to where to go. Derek was taken aback by the woman's directness. He had a very distinct feeling the petite brunette never said anything she didn't mean.

Beck walked past Derek and he started to follow her, she abruptly stopped turning to him. "Just so you know I do not trust you, so I asked a friend of mine to join us, he's an attorney."

Derek gave her a curt nod, "Good that saves me a lot of trouble." He held up a manila envelope.

Beck narrowed her eyes, "What's that?"

"Look Beck. . ."

Beck interrupted him, "You do not get to call me that Dr. Shepherd, only my friends are allowed, its Mrs. Tucker to you."

"Fine, Mrs. Tucker," Derek couldn't help but feel intimidated by the woman. At first glance, she seemed soft and feminine, someone who needed to be taken care of, but the self-assured way she carried herself spoke volumes. Beckett Tucker was not a woman to play games with. "I know you think I'm the biggest ass on this earth."

She shrugged; he would get no argument from her. He had done nothing to prove otherwise.

"In my defense I can only say that I've been under a lot of stress with my daughter fighting for her life. Add to that the shock of finding out I have a son I never knew about," he shrugged. "Well I know it's no excuse for my behavior, but I intend to correct my mistakes."

She gave him a firm nod. Beck answered in a no-nonsense manner, "Good, I hope you can correct them, because if you can't . . ."

Derek held up his hands defensively and chuckled, "Yeah, yeah, I know you can make it look like an accident," he said flashing his McDreamy smile. The chill in her eyes was enough to wipe the smile off his face.

Her features remained stern and she gave him another firm nod looking him straight in the eye, "Damn straight." Derek could hear there was no humor in her voice and sobered.

"Now that we that that settled," she motioned him to follow her.

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Derek nodded a greeting to Addison and Sullivan. Beck then introduced him to James Dalton. The three sat at one end of the table in the dining room, each with a cup of coffee before them.

Beck motioned for Derek to take a seat then asked, "Would you care for a cup of coffee or something else to drink?"

Still standing Derek shook his head no to the offer, "Where's Richie?"

"He is outside with Jackson, I thought perhaps we should have a talk before you spoke to him," Sullivan answered resolutely then motioned for Derek to take a seat.

Derek inclined his head and sat across the table from Addison, then turned to Beck, "I'll have that cup of coffee after all."

Derek took the manila envelope and pushed it across the table to Addison. "Since you have a lawyer here I'm guessing you already have an idea what is in there."

Addison reached for the envelope nodding to Derek. She pulled out the papers giving them the once over then handed them to Sullivan. He looked them over as well, and then handed them to James.

James took his time carefully read through the documents. Beck returned placing a cup of coffee next to Derek looking between Addie and Sully as she did. "Okay I can't read you guys, what do the papers say?"

Derek motioned for Beckett to sit down beside him, "Basically I am surrendering my paternal rights."

Beck pursed her lips as she studied the man beside her, "In exchange for Richie going through with the donation?"

"No," Derek said firmly.

Everyone looked at Derek with surprise. He looked from Beckett to Sullivan to Addison. He definitely had their attention now. "Sure I could make it a stipulation that Richie do the bone marrow transplant in order for me to sign those papers. But in the end how sincere would you really think I am? We all know if I did that it would be nothing short of blackmail and I'm sure your attorney would advise you that I would have six months to change my mind."

Derek smiled at Addison showing her the sincerity of his statement. "I know you Addison. I know there is no way that you would allow Richie not to go through with the bone marrow donation."

Addie nodded at Derek in agreement then motioned toward the papers asking, "Then why are you doing this?"

"Because I screwed up, the last thing Richie needs in his life is to have to worry that I am going to come swooping down snatching him from his parents." Derek shrugged at her, "Right now he doesn't want me in his life. If I force the issue then he will hate me and never want me to be a part of it. Just maybe by letting him go now in the future he might allow me in."

Addison and Sullivan were speechless, they had both anticipated Derek giving up his paternal rights, but neither one thought for one minute that he would do so without a guarantee that Richie would go through with donating his bone marrow.

Derek smiled at Addison; he knew he threw her for a loop, "So why don't Sullivan and you go over the documents while I speak to Richie?"

Addison was still slightly in shock, "Sure, he's in the backyard, Beck can take you to him."

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Beck and Derek step through the patio doors, she motioned Tuck to come. She took a moment to speak with Tuck, then he left to two of them alone.

Once Tuck was inside the house she turned to Derek, "I'm still not quite sure what to make of you Dr. Shepherd. I still do not trust you, so I am going to sit over here," she motioned to one of the chairs on the patio, "While you talk to Richie."

Derek smiled at the brunette and nodded. "Perfect, I'm sure this won't take long."

Beck held up her hand, telling him to wait a minute. She crossed the patio to the sandbox where Richie was play and bent down next to him. She spoke with him quietly for a moment, he nodded to her. Richie gave her a hug and she gave him a kiss on the side of his head. She returned to Derek's side, "Okay you can talk to him now." Once she was settled in a chair Derek approached Richie.

Derek walked up to Richie crouched down beside him with his arms loosely resting on his knees and gently said with a smile, "Hi Richie."

Richie's eyes widened slightly as he looked up at Dr. Shepherd. He had two black eyes. He hadn't noticed that earlier in the day, because when he heard him talking he had his back to him.

"Hi, Dr. Shepherd," he said quietly. He continued to look curiously at the black eyes and asked hesitantly, "Does that hurt?"

Derek furrowed his brow, slightly puzzled by the question, and then remembered his broken nose and black eyes. He chuckled. "Not so much anymore," he said with a half grin.

Richie pursed his lips then asked, "How did you get the black eyes?"

Derek's eyes brightened with amusement, "I said something really stupid and got punched for it."

Richie's eyes widened again in surprise, "What did you say and who punched you?"

Derek grinned again at the boy's curiosity, "Let's just say I said something not so polite to your father, he took offense and punched me." It surprised Richie that his father was the one who hit Dr. Shepherd, because Richie could not ever remember his dad hitting anyone, he could barely even remember his dad ever losing his temper.

"I definitely deserved to be punched in the nose, and I have since apologized." A lopsided grin, which Derek knew all to well appeared on Richie's face, and at the moment the boy looked very much like his mother.

"Now I think I owe you an apology. You should never have found out about my being your biological father that way." The smile disappeared from Richie's face. "I'm very sorry."

Derek could see the boy retreating again. Derek pointed to his chin, "So if you think I deserve it, you can give me a slug too." Derek watched Richie's indecision and grinned at him, "Come on you know you want to." He continued grin and nodded at the Richie.

Richie stood up turned to his aunt giving her a questioning look. Beck shrugged slightly and gave him a small nod. Richie narrowed his eyes, curled up his fist and swung as hard as he could. Derek was knocked off balance and landed on his back. He put his hand to his chin rubbing it. He was very surprised that the punch actually hurt and said trying to keep the amusement out of his voice, "Your punch packs a mighty mean wallop."

Richie bit his lower lip, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you so hard."

"No need to apologize Richie, I deserved to get slugged. Did your dad teach you how to punch like that?"

He shook his head no, and the lopsided grin appeared again then in a whisper he said, "Aunt Beck did, but don't tell mom and dad."

"Okay I won't say a word," he grinned back and looked over Richie's shoulder at the amused look on Beckett's face. "Now that that is settled," Derek pushed himself up and sat down next to Richie resting his arms on his knees. "I know you are afraid, but Richie I promise I will never make you live with me."

"Why should I believe you?" Richie said with doubt.

Derek nodded at the boy, he was right he had no reason to believe him, he heard the most shocking news of his life in a way he never should have and it was Derek's fault. "There is no reason for you to believe me, that is why I brought something for your parents."

Richie narrowed his eyes, "What did you bring them?"

"I brought them papers."

Richie furrowed his brow and looked a bit confused, "Papers?"

Derek nodded, "Yes, ones that a judge will sign that say you never ever have to live with me."

Richie pursed his lips, he knew about judges signing papers giving parents rights and taking them away. He knew because that is why he never got to see Brandon anymore. "What do you say we go inside so we can all sign them?"

A small smile appeared on Richie's face he nodded.

Derek reached out putting his hand on Richie's knee, "I was hoping maybe you would want to a big brother to Ellie, it would mean a lot to her." Derek could see the apprehension in Richie's eyes. "Don't worry you don't have to live with us to be her big brother." Richie smiled up at Derek and gave him a small nod. Derek's smile widened, "Who knows maybe even one day you and I can be friends."

Derek rose to his feet, dusted the sand off the back of his pants then held out his hand to Richie. Richie took his hand allowing Derek to help him up. Derek smiled down at the boy, "Why don't you run ahead and tell your parents I'll be in shortly?"

Richie nodded then turned and ran into the house.

Beck rose from her seat and came up beside Derek, who was watching the retreating boy. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Thank you," she said to Derek with a small smile playing on her lips. Derek gave her a small nod then started to head into the house. She reached out grabbing his arm to stop him, "And for the record I no longer think you are the biggest ass on the earth."

Derek chuckled and a broad smile appeared on his face, "That means a lot coming from you Mrs. Tucker."

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