Derek carried a box into the kitchen of the new house he was going to share with Meredith. He smiled when he saw her putting dishes in the cabinets. "Hey Meredith, where does this box go?"

Meredith peaked in the box. "Oh these are some of my frames. Put them in the living room please."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Meredith?"

"Yes?" Meredith smiled.

"Once Burke, Alex and I get all of the boxes in, then would you like me to set up the Christmas tree?" He kissed her cheek again.

"Sure." She wiped a strand of hair out of her face. "Can you believe this baby is due December thirtieth? I was eight months pregnant just yesterday?"

Derek smiled. "The eight months went so fast. I'm going to miss the belly."

Meredith smiled. "We need to finish the nursery tomorrow. The paint is dry, but we need to hang shelves or whatever."

Derek walked up and smelled her hair. "Yes we do."

Meredith smiled put her hand to her stomach. "You hear that Maddie? You're going to have a bedroom soon."

Derek put his hands over Meredith's hands. "We do have one more month to go."

"One more month." Meredith closed her eyes and smiled. "One more."

Derek turned her around in his arms. "That's not a lot of time."

"No it is not." Meredith moved her lips into his. "Then you go to Africa."

Derek frowned. "Then I go to Africa."

"I won't be pregnant anymore." Meredith said. "You won't have to worry about that."

"I like you pregnant." Derek said in between kisses. "It's sexy."

"Yea?"

"Very." He kissed her as he ran his hands up and down her arms. "Sexy."

"Derek, I need to put the new placemats on the table." She moaned as he began to kiss her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "No sex now, maybe later."

Derek laughed. "We could have sex on the counters or table."

"Derek…:

"We'll move the placemats." He said as he bit lightly at her ear.

Meredith laughed. "Your mind is in the gutter.

"We haven't done it there yet." Derek smiled. "Not in our new house anyways."

"Not right now." Meredith kissed him lightly and turned back to cleaning. "We just moved it and there is a lot to do."

"We can do other stuff later or tomorrow. We have nothing planned for tomorrow." Derek smiled.

Derek came up behind her again, pushing her hair to the side and kissing slowly down her neck. "Derek…"

Just then Alex cam through the door carrying chairs for the kitchen table. "Get a room or at least wait until we have all left."

"Hey man, we live here." Derek walked over to the sink and rolled is eyes. "Meredith we need to start testing out the locks in this place."

"Yes we do." Meredith laughed. "Alex you can put that chair up against the table."

"Yea." Alex put the chair away and walked up to hug Meredith. "Alright, I'm going to peace out dude."

"Bye." Meredith responded. "Thanks for helping."

"No problem." Alex grabbed his keys and left.

When the door closed, Derek returned to Meredith's neck. "We're alone.'

"We are alone." Meredith turned around. "But we have a nursery and a Christmas tree to set up. Now I would love it if you would take some of our baby's things and put them in her room, so that I can load up the changing table and her dressers."

"Fine." Derek groaned as he picked up a white basket with pink lining. "Are you kidding me?"

"What?"

"Does she really need all of these clothes?" Derek asked.

"Derek, that is just one basket." Meredith smiled and pointed to the other side of the room. "All of those baskets and boxes are hers too. Oh and the trash bags, because Christina gave me some of the girls clothes."

"How many outfits is she going to need?" Derek was shocked by the unknown number of trips he was going to have to make just for his baby's clothes.

"She needs options." Meredith looked at him cutely.

Derek two baskets together and picked them up. "She might have more clothes then you, if that is possible."

"You like my clothes." Meredith laughed.

"I do, but I love you out of them two." Derek winked.

"You're so cheesy." Meredith put her salt and pepper shakers on the kitchen table.

"You love it." Derek made his way to the stairs.

"I do." Meredith giggled.

A little while later Meredith stood in the shower as she finished up washing her hair. She heard Derek come into the restroom. "Hey."

"Hey." She heard from the other side of the shower. "I put the Christmas tree up and the nursery shelves are on the wall."

Meredith smiled as she opened the shower curtain. "Good job."

Derek stepped closer. "And I put the curtains in the nursery, guest room and our room."

"Wow." Meredith leaned out and kissed his nose. "You know, I could use a little help in here."

Derek ripped his shirt off in record time. "Okay."

Meredith put her hand on her waist and giggled. "Don't get to excited Happy Feet. I just need help shaving my legs."

Derek dropped his shoulders as she handed him the razor. He pulled the rest of his clothes off and stepped into the shower. Meredith propped her leg on the shower marble shower ledge and handed Derek her shaving cream. He put some of the pink gel on his hand and lathered it onto her thin legs. He ran the razor along her legs until he was done. "Is that better Miss?"

Meredith giggled. "Yes thank you." She pulled her closer to him. "Now I think it would be great if we could get our Christmas tree ready."

"If you give me sex first." Derek winked. "You see, I'm not going to have sex for months in Africa."

"Derek, I'm tired." Meredith whined. "My feet hurt."

"I'll massage your feet. We'll call it foreplay." Derek kissed her neck. "It could be fun."

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Fine, but can I just lay there?"

"Nope, we're having hot wild kinky and trashy sex. You're not going to be happy if you miss taking part." Derek helped her out of the shower. "Oh one more thing."

"What?" Meredith said as she put her lavender robe on.

"Come here." He led her out of the bedroom and over to the nursery door. "Close your eyes."

Meredith covered her eyes. "What?"

Derek opened the door and led Meredith in. "Okay Baby, open your eyes."

Meredith opened her eyes and looked at the room in amazement.

"Oh my…" Meredith was speechless.

"The bed is all that is set up. I figured you would want to do the rest together." He said as he put his hand on her waist. "Do you like it?"

Meredith wiped a tear away. "I love it."

"Good." Derek smiled. "I have one more surprise hidden in the guest room. I'll put it in our room once you see it."

"More?" Meredith smiled. "No wonder you didn't want me to go into the baby's room for the past week."

Derek laughed. "Go look in the guest room."

Meredith smiled then walked right by him and into the guest room. She smiled when she saw her gift.

"Derek..." Meredith smiled and turned around.

"You didn't get one for your baby shower and I know you said you wanted one for our room." Derek smiled. "Do you like this one?"

"Derek, I love it." Meredith began to cry. "I just, it's hitting me that you're not going to be here to do this with me."

"Oh Baby." He put his arms around her. "I'll be back."

"I know, but you're going to miss things." Meredith put her head in his chest.

"It will be okay remember email and calling on the phone during designated times. You're going to send pictures and video. I will too I promise." Derek kissed her. "It's okay Meredith."

"Okay." She titled her head upward and Derek met his lips at hers.

"I love you and don't forget that." He kissed her again. "I'm never going to stop being here for you or our baby. Just because I'm gone, doesn't mean I'm not here for you."

Meredith smiled. "I know."

"You tired?" Derek changed the subject.

"No." She led him out of the newly painted guest room by the hand. "I think it is time you get a proper thank you and payment for all of your hard work."

"Oh." A grin spread across Derek's face. "I like thank yous."

Meredith giggled as she led him down the hall. "I bet you do."

we'll be okay.

"Yea, right there Baby." Meredith giggled as she munched on a fresh tangerine and looked at her magazine. "Yeah…oh yeah you got it."

"You know that could sound very dirty." Derek said as he massaged her feet. "I like dirty."

"It could, but it's not because I'm very pregnant with swollen rhino feet." Meredith threw a piece of tangerine peel at him.

"You don't have rhino feet." Derek kissed the bottom of her feet. "But you are very pregnant."

It had been a week since Meredith and Derek moved into their new house and almost everything was put together, since Derek was leaving shortly after the birth. The Christmas tree and other decorations were up. Most of the rooms had been painted by Derek with the help of Alex, Callie, George and Burke. Meredith did most of her holiday baking.

"Derek did you know that Eva Longoria was a beauty queen?" Meredith took off her glasses. "Never mind don't answer that."

Derek laughed. "No I didn't."

"Good." She smiled. "She used to go hunting in Texas."

"So, I pretty much cut a brain in half today." Derek responded as he sat next to her on the bed. "I saved a man's life."

"Well, aren't you just the superhero?" Meredith laughed.

"Hey..." Derek acted offended. "That hurt."

Meredith leaned over and kissed him on the lips. "I'm sorry baby."

"It's okay." Derek pretended to have a pouty lip.

Meredith hit him with the pillow. "Get over it you big baby."

"Ouch." Derek acted like it hit. "Pillows are dangerous."

"Oh okay." Meredith rolled her eyes. "You know you are very whiny for someone who cuts people's heads open for a living."

"You're cute when you're a bully." Derek kissed her cheek. "How was work today?"

"It was good, but my feet were killing me." Meredith leaned her head against Derek's shoulder. "Twelve days until Christmas and the bakery was so busy."

"It must have been full of people who bought cookies in hopes of putting them on a fancy plate and calling them their own." Derek took her magazine. "Kiss me."

Meredith kissed Derek passionately. "You like my nails?" Meredith held up her newly manicured nails. "Izzie and I went to get our nails done after work."

"Very nice." Derek looked at her fingers and then kissed her hand. "I like it."

Meredith felt a strong pain in her side. She took a deep breath and looked over at Derek. "So were any other cool surgeries in your day?"

Derek shook his head. "No, I did a few minor ones, but nothing big."

"Cool." Meredith took a deep breath and looked at Derek. "I'm thirsty."

"What can I get the pretty lady?" Derek smiled and stroked her hair.

"Water please, with three ice cubes." Meredith was being very precise.

"Okay." Derek laughed. "Anything else I can get you Baby?"

"Just water." Meredith let go of his hand as he stood up. "There are some white chocolate cookies if you want some in the pink bag by the oven."

"Yummy." Derek kissed her then made his way down the stairs. He filled up a glass of water and placed exactly three perfect ice cubes into the water. Derek grabbed a cookie from the bag and took a bite.

"Derek!" Meredith shouted.

Derek put a straw into the water and walked to the stairs to see Meredith standing at the top. As he walked up the stairs he saw that she looked nervous. "What's wrong Meredith?"

She put her hand to her stomach. "Well. I might be having contractions."

"Are you sure?" Derek asked as he stood next to her.

"Well I'm having sharp cramp like feelings." Meredith responded as she walked back into her bedroom. "They just started, so I think we should wait before freaking out."

"Okay." Derek went and sat on the bed. "Come sit with me."

Meredith went over to the bed and sat with Derek. She laid her head on his chest. "I'm scared."

"I know." Derek kissed her forehead. "It's all going to be alright."

She's not just scared of labor. She knows I leave soon. I'm not even going to be home for Christmas.

They sat in silence until the next labor pain came. Derek held her hand as she tried to stay calm. "I think it's time."

"Me too." Derek stood up. "I'll get the bags from the closet and nursery."

"Okay." Meredith slid her socks and shoes on. When Derek came back into the room she stood up. "This is it."

"This is it Meredith." He smiled and kissed her lightly. "We're having a baby."

"Yes we are." Meredith smiled. She picked up her pillow and put her arms around Derek. "Derek she's coming early."

"Only three weeks, she'll be alright." Derek tried to say confidently. "She'll be fine."

She's still our baby, of course we are going to be paranoid.

"Right, she's going to be alright." Meredith put a faint smile across her face. "We should get going and call the doctor to tell her that I'm on my way."

"Okay." Derek led her by the small of her back. They walked into the garage and Derek helped her into their car. He took a deep breath and got into the drivers side. They exchanged glances. "Let's go."

Meredith walked into the hospital, while holding on to Derek's hand. They walked up to the front desk. A young nurse looked up and said. "Oh Dr. Shepherd, how are you?"

"I'm great and you?" Derek responded with a smile.

"I'm…" The nurse was interrupted.

"Okay I'm glad you have a new girlfriend Derek, but right now I am in labor." Meredith shouted.

"Right, sorry." Derek kissed her cheek and Meredith rolled her eyes. "My fiancé is here and she's been having contractions."

"Aww that's great." The nurse handed Derek a clipboard.

"Yeah I'm sure its fantastic." Meredith said in a snotty tone. "Why don't you ask me in a few hours."

Derek smirked. "How soon until she'll be in a room?"

"Well you guys can follow me." The nurse stood up. "I can put you in one right away."

"Great." Derek smiled. "Thank you Vera."

"Anytime Dr.Shepherd." The nurse said as Derek and Meredith followed her.

"Oh your new girlfriend Vera gave you a nickname." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"Meredith honey, calm down." Derek pulled her close and held her hand. "I love you."

"Yeah, yeah." Meredith stopped. "Ohh…contraction."

"Okay." Derek held on hand on her back and allowed her to squeeze the other one. "Okay, you alright?"

"Yeah." Meredith stood up straight and followed the nurse.

"Okay, here is your room." She handed Meredith a hospital gown. "Somebody will be in shortly to examine you."

"Thanks." Meredith said as she sat her purse down. When the nurse closed the doors she spoke up. "Nope, no way."

"No way to what?" Derek asked as he stepped closer.

"I can't do this, I'm not going to." Meredith began to cry. "I want to go home."

Derek walked up and put his hands on both sides of her face. "Meredith this is scary, but this is also a good thing."

"Please take me home. I promise I'll do anything!" Meredith sobbed into his chest. "Please."

"Meredith Baby, I can't do that." Derek kissed her head. "I'm going to be here the whole time."

"Even when I yell?" Meredith began to calm down.

"Especially when you yell." He smiled lightly.

"Okay, because it hurts now and I'm not even to the hard part." Meredith looked up.

"I expect yelling." Derek kissed her again. "Now, go change."

"Okay." Meredith went into the restroom and changed into the down. She walked over and sat on the hospital bed. "So the baby is on her way."

"Cupcake is on her way." Derek smiled. "I can't wait to meet her."

"Me either." Meredith smiled as she clasped her hands together. She felt another contraction coming. Derek rubbed her back as she came through it. "This blows!"

Derek laughed. "Meredith you're cute."

"I'm cute?" Meredith laughed. "Oh, well I'm glad that you think this is all fluffy and sweet. Do you realize that this all lasts until I push the baby out?"

Derek's face straightened up. "Yeah, but Meredith..."

"Oh don't Meredith me." Meredith cut him off. "This could take a while. I have to be dilated to ten centimeters. I have to push a baby out while I'm ten centimeters."

"I know Meredith…" Derek took her hand.

Meredith pulled her hand away. "Have you ever seen a damn ruler Derek?"

Derek smirked. "Women do it everyday."

"Oh don't pull that one on my like this is supposed to be a flippin cake walk." Meredith raised her voice. "Ten freaking centimeters for me to push a whole human out."

Derek kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry."

Meredith laid her head back on the pillow. "We are never having sex again. Nope…never."

Derek smiled since she wasn't looking. "No sex?"

"None, not even if you beg and offer to do that thing with your tongue or the shower thing."

"Not even for the shower thing?" Derek kissed her cheek.

"Not even for the shower thing." Meredith pointed her finger. "I'll get a dildo."

Derek laughed and then saw a glare from Meredith, "Sorry."

"Forgiven." She smiled.

"Meri…"

"Yeah?"

"This is our last time together with it being just us." Derek sat on the edge of the bed. "Then we will have another little person around us."

Meredith smiled. "Do you want to make out?"

Derek laughed. "What?"

"Well we can't have sex and we're not going to be able to until after you return from Africa." Meredith frowned. "So, the only action you're getting for a few months might as well be some very sexual kissing in between contractions. Although we can also make out as a way to celebrate you getting to stay a few extra days and you won't miss the birth like you worried about."

Derek smiled and scooted his body closer to Meredith. He placed his lips against hers and pulled her closer. As his tongue entered her mouth she moaned in pleasure. He stroked her hair as she rand her hand along his back. They pulled apart when their bodies tensed up. "You okay."

Meredith closed her eyes. "Contra…ouch."

He kissed her cheek and sat up. "I'll go get you some ice chips."

A few hours later the doctor came in to examine Meredith. "Alright Ms. Grey, you're completely dilated."

Meredith took a deep breath and looked at Derek with tears in her eyes. "Okay."

Derek kissed her head. "Baby, you're going to be fine. It'll all be over in a second."

Meredith put her head into Derek's side as he stood over her bed. "Okay."

"Alright Meredith, healits going to be a cake walk for you." The doctor smiled. "When I tell you too push, push on a count."

Meredith swallowed the knot in her throat. She nodded and the doctor instructed her to push. She squeezed Derek and pushed as long as she could.

"And stop." The doctor suctioned. "Okay Meredith I need you to push again."

"I can't." Meredith cried. "I can't."

"Yes you can Meredith." The doctor said in a warm tone. "You have to do this."

Derek made eye contact with the doctor. He then looked back at Meredith. "Meredith honey, we need you to push for you and the baby. The sooner you do it, the sooner she will be here."

"Do it for me please." Meredith cried.

Derek laughed lightly. "How about if get up there and I sit behind you?"

Meredith nodded, "Okay."

Derek took his shoes off and got onto the bed. He opened his legs and scooted so that Meredith was sitting in the middle. Derek took her hands in his. "Okay Meri, we're going to do this together. Squeeze my hands, but I am still here for you."

"Okay." Meredith took a deep breath.

The doctor smiled at them. "Okay Meredith…One…two…three…four…five….okay and stop."

Meredith stopped pushing and put her head back into Derek's chest. "This hurts honey."

Derek smiled. "Are you happy you got the epidural?"

"Shut up." Meredith nodded. "Is it time to push?"

There doctor looked at the monitor. "Yes, you are about to start your next contraction."

Derek kissed Meredith on her head. She was dripping sweat and he could tell through her golden hair. "Come on Meri."

Meredith lifted readjusted herself and sat up and pushed. "I'm ready."

"Okay Meredith, I see the baby's head." The doctor suctioned. "One…two…three…four and stop."

Meredith took a big gasp.

"Okay Meredith the baby's head is out." The doctor smiled. "One more big push Meredith."

Meredith nodded and Derek got up and stood by her bedside. Meredith held tightly to Derek's arm as she let out a big and long push.

"…two…three..four and great." The doctor smiled as a strong cry was heard. "It's a girl."

Meredith relaxed her body and put her head back as Derek kissed all over her. "She's here Meredith."

Meredith looked at the tears in Derek's eyes as she listened to the cry of her new baby.

"Dr. Shepherd, would you like to cut your daughter's umbilical cord?" The doctor asked as she handed his the medical scissors.

"Yeah." Derek nodded and cut the cord where he was instructed. He walked over to Meredith, holding his new baby girl and trying to hold in his cry. "Meredith, she's beautiful."

Meredith stopped crying, "Can I see her?"

"Yes you can." Derek slid the baby gently into Meredith's arms.

Meredith kissed the new baby and a tear fell from her eye.

She's so small.

"She's so tiny." Meredith smiled as she played with the baby's fingers.

"Well, she was early." The doctor smiled and walked over. "Your new baby weighed a small five pounds and three ounces and was only sixteen inches long."

"You were tiny Cupcake." Derek said with smile. He tilted Meredith's head up and kissed her. "You did a great job."

Meredith smiled. "Thank you. Derek?"

"Yes baby?"

"I love you." She kissed him again and then looked back to the baby.

"I love you too." Derek kissed her head. "I love our Madison Hailey too."

"We love you Madison, also known as your Daddy's little cupcake." Meredith smiled as the baby began to cry. Meredith looked up at Derek, "For someone who is so tiny, she sure likes to cry."

"She wants to be heard." Derek smiled. "I know its early, but she has your nose."

"Its not too early, because I noticed that she has your hair." Meredith laughed. "In a few days we should be able to see her eye color, I bet they'll be blue."

Derek laughed. "They'll be brown."

"Why? Yours are blue and mine are greenish. Where would she get brown?" Meredith wondered.

"Well, my Dad and two of my sister's had brown eyes. I think hers will be brown or green." Derek smiled. "She'll be beautiful just like her mommy."

Meredith giggled. "Poor baby."

Suddenly a wave of sadness crossed over Derek as he realized he was going to miss some of Madison Hailey Shepherd's life. He took a deep breath.

The time will go fast.

Derek sat and watched Meredith interact with their new baby. There was something amazing happening in front of him and he wanted to keep this picture in his head forever.

Madison Hailey Shepherd
5 lbs 3 ounces
16 inches
New York General Hospital

Parents: Meredith Grey and Dr. Derek Shepherd

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