NINE

Swimming In A Fish Bowl

Meredith pulled on her dress, it was black and clung to her body in just the right way. It even showed the tiny bump where her tiny baby was growing. It was a week since she had suspected, 6 days since she had found out and 5 days since she had told and then agreed to marry Derek. She pulled the curlers from her hair, and let it hang round her face, framing her face with waves of dark blonde hair.

She looked to the door as Derek walked in dressed in a pair of black trousers and a white shirt. In his arms he held her son Luca, who was also dressed up, with of course a scrub cap. For his 3rd birthday Derek had found his scrub cap that his own father had given him on his 3rd birthday. This one, black with silver stars, replaced the previous cap he'd been given and subsequently passed on to Luca, one with little trucks on. Luca grinned, they'd been unable to get him out of the cap and the only way he had agreed to come to their engagement party was with it on. Meredith and Derek didn't want to experience a temper tantrum from the toddler so had agreed. It wasn't that bad really, as it matched the adults black clothing as well as Lucas black trouser and white shirt combo. Looking like a mini Derek, with the same clothing and blue eyes, the only difference being Lucas' dark blonde hair but that was covered by the scrub cap.

She smiled when she thought back to the conversation they'd had with the 3 year old earlier that night.

[Flashback Sequence

Meredith and Derek were sat on the sofa, Luca sat between them leant against Derek.

"Luca, me and Derek want to tell you something, ok, you have to promise to listen it's important."

Luca looked up from his building blocks and nodded. He moved them away from himself, knowing he'd start playing otherwise. Meredith smiled at the sight of her son acting so grown up.

"Ok. Well. Me and Derek are going to get married. That means we'll always live here together. And we'll be a family because I'm having a baby to. You'll have a little baby brother or sister in a few months time."

"Do you understand?" asked Derek after Luca didn't speak.

The little boy ignored Derek. Still silent, thinking.. Derek and Meredith looked at each other, not used to this quiet contemplative side of Luca. They both held their breath waiting for his reply.

Luca looked at Derek and tilted his head to the side "Does this mean you'll be my Daddy Derek?"

Derek sat stunned. "Erm.. if you want me to be. You don't have to call me Daddy, you can call me Derek still."

Luca opened his eyes wide "But I want to call you Daddy Derek."

Derek pulled Luca to him in a hug "Then sure little man you can call me Derek." he looked at Meredith and smiled at the sight of her with tears running down her face. "So. Because me and mummy are getting married our friends are throwing us a party tonight. You can come yeah?"

"Yea!.. Will Uncle Alex be there? And George? Cause they funny!"

"I expect so. We best get dressed otherwise we'll be late." he said standing. He turned to Meredith and said "I'll sort the little guy out. You get ready. We have to have a man to man talk." he winked and left the room.

[Flashback End

Meredith walked into Joe's bar, her hand in Derek's, who had Luca hanging off his other arm. They were greeted by applause, which Meredith ducked her head against in embarrassment.

Derek felt Luca tug on his hand, he looked down in to his soon to be, official, son's blue eyes, "Can I go see Alex Daddy Derek?" he laughed at the 3 year old and nodded yes, and watched him run over to Alex and the group of interns.

He turned to Meredith and softly kissed her, "I think we had better circulate" he said. Pulling away and walking towards Burke. Meredith nodded and walked to join her son and friends, catching on to the end of Luca's sentence.

"..and now he's my Daddy Derek." the interns laughed at the way the 3 year old referred to their boss.

Cristina turned to Meredith, and Izzie joined them, leaving the guys together.

"So he still hasn't got you a ring yet then?" asked Cristina.

"No. But that doesn't matter. I'm just happy, he's Luca's Daddy and he'll be my husband. And our baby." she smiled.

Cristina rolled her eyes "You know McDreamy told us all to look out for you already. You and the McBaby. You've got him so whipped."

Izzie hit her friend "I think its nice. Shows he cares. You just order Burke about. You don't know romance."

"Prft. Romance is for losers" said Cristina.

"Yeah well.. Look something's going on" Izzie said looking over Meredith's shoulder. Meredith turned and looked at Derek who was standing at the bar with Burke hovering next to him, both having conspiring smiles on their faces. Derek called Luca over and then knelt down next him whispering something in his ear too which Luca grinned and nodded at.

"What are they doing?" wondered Meredith allowed to her friends. Izzie and Cristina exchanged a look behind her back.

"Oh look Derek's motioning for you to go over." said Izzie, at the same time as she said "Over" Cristina shoved her friend forcefully across the room towards her fiancé. As Meredith stumbled forwards she shot a glare back at Cristina, before continuing on to where Derek stood.

The room fell silent. "What's going on?" asked Meredith obviously being the only one not in on the secret.

Luca looked up at Derek and smiling before Derek once again knelt, this time on one knee in front of Meredith.

Her hand flew to her mouth as she realised this was the moment. The moment she'd get her ring and it would all really become real.

She looked down into Derek's blue eyes, as listened to his voice.

"5 days ago I asked you to marry me. I didn't have a ring when I asked, although I had bought it weeks before. I can't remember what I said, in fact, I don't know if I want to it might be too embarrassing." those in the room who had been present when Derek proposed laughed., "but.. I just want to do this properly. I love you Meredith, and I love your son, and I want to be with you two for the rest of me life. So Meredith, will you marry me?" he asked, opening the green velvet box in his hand to reveal a white gold ring with diamonds.

"Of course I will." she answered, grinning as he slipped the ring on. She pulled him to his feet and kissed him, as the room erupted into cheers and claps. They pulled apart and Derek picked Luca up and held him between them. They looked into each others eyes before turning back to the crowd many of whom snapping pictures of the family. For the rest of the evening Luca ran off and talked to Mer and Derek's Doctor friends, whilst the happy couple circulated, hardly moving more than 10 feet away from each other.

Just before he was about to leave Richard came over to the couple. "Congrats, again. Derek a word." he said. Meredith smiled and placed a hand on her fathers arm.

"I'm coming with." she said.

"No you're not. This is father to future son-in-law talk."

"I don't care. I'm still coming."

Richard gave up knowing she had the same stubborn streak as her mother. Instead he simply smiled and allowed her to lead him from the bar to an empty booth.

When they were sat down he started to speak. "All I wanted was to say congratulations. I know what you've both been through so I'm sure you won't cause each other pain. Because Derek if you hurt my little girl I'll kill you. Actually, no, I'll let Yang hurt you, because she would kick your butt."

Derek nodded. "Look after yourselves. I hope you are both as happy as me and you mother were Mer. I have to go. Surgery tomorrow. You're heading up to see your parents aren't you Derek?"

"Yeah. We're all going. First time Mer meets the parents and sisters." he grinned knowing Meredith was worried, not having any siblings she wasn't really used to the big family deal. It had always been her, her mother, and her stepfather Richard.

Richard stood and kissed Meredith's forehead. "Goodnight" he said.

The couple watched him make his way through the bar saying goodbye to his colleagues, and friends. Meredith held Derek's hand tight.

"I was younger than Luca when my Dad died, and my Mum always told me about Thatcher. But, when I was the same age as Luca, my mum married Richard. They sat me down and had the same talk as we gave Luca. He'll love you just like he'd love a biological father. Because, you're his real father now, and you always will be. Thatcher made me, but, Richard raised me, he made me into the person I am now. That's what you'll do with Luca," She turned from where she had been looking at Luca playing with Izzie and Alex, and looked into Derek's eyes. "And I couldn't be happier at that. Mark made Luca, but, he's not Luca's dad. You are. Luca will have your last name, and so will I. We'll be the Shepherds." She smiled, excited at the prospect.

Derek smiled through hazy eyes, Meredith had never really talked to her about her relationship with Thatcher and Richard, except for obviously saying Richard was her father. "I love you" he said. "I can't wait to marry you, and raise Lucas."

"Why do you call him that?"

"What? Lucas?"

"Yeah, everyone calls him Luca, even me, but you never do. Why not?"

It was Derek's turn to share with her. "When I was little every one called me Der, except my Dad. My Dad only ever calls me Derek. I guess, I never thought about it, I just subconsciously say Lucas. Or Little Man of course. But yeah Lucas.. I like it. Lucas Thatcher. Its way cool. I'm named like that, after my granddad Thomas. He died before I met him.." he smiled, he held his hand out and she shook it. "Hi. My name is Derek Thomas Shepherd."

"Hi" she said laughing "Meredith Rose Webber Grey."

"Ahh, so you are a Webber. Why aren't you called Dr Webber Grey?"

She shrugged. "I guess I wanted to be like my Mum."

"Are you guna take my name when we get married?"

"Yep. I'll be Meredith Webber-Grey-Shepherd. Or maybe just Meredith Shepherd." she said laughing. "And Lucas Thatcher Shepherd."

"Cool" he said, he stood and took her hand and pulled her up "I can't wait. But now, we better get our son home."

They went and collected Luca from where he was, asleep on Cristina, but they didn't remove him until they all took some pictures to use as blackmail material. She couldn't get up and beat them whilst Luca was asleep, because however mean she wanted to appear when it came to Luca she was just as whipped as Derek. After saying goodbye and thanking Joe, they left the bar and drove home.

Derek carried Luca from the car and placed him in his bed. "Night son" he whispered kissing his forehead. He turned round to leave the room and smiled as he saw Meredith leaning in the doorway, he flicked the night light on and closed the door softly behind him.

"Bedtime?" he asked with a filthy grin.

"You are a dirty man Dr Shepherd." she said mock disgustedly.

He pulled her into his arm and lifted her "You know you love it really" he said carrying her down the hallway to their bedroom.

"Damn right I do." she said kissing him.