Here we go guys. I'd like to thank you again for following my story. I can't believe it. Thank you again.
Chapter 4 – Visiting the Shepherds – part 2
At the end they opted for the Easter break. Meredith was heavily pregnant and the Easter was the limit in which she was allowed to flight. They decided to spend a week in his mother's house. Being the hospital's owners had its privileges: they could decide when and for how much time they can leave the hospital. Derek was still surprised by Meredith's decision to go and visit his family.
He was watching his wife while she was preparing their suitcases. She was so focused on her task that she didn't hear him. The scene in front of him reminded him the evening he told his mother he was going to see her. He and Meredith were in the kitchen. He was sitting at the table watching his wife cleaning the kitchen up after dinner. He was watching her moving around the kitchen with an enormous belly. He was so focused on her, that he didn't realized that she was speaking to him.
"Derek!" Meredith said.
"Uhm?" he replied
"Did you hear what I've said?" she asked looking her husband directly in his eyes.
"Something about the kids?" he replied hoping he got right.
Meredith put the sponge down in the sink, put her small hands on her hips and looked her husband.
"You didn't hear a thing of what I've said, did you?" she said knowing already the answer.
"No, I'm sorry. I was watching my beautiful pregnant wife", he replied smirking.
Repressing a sigh, Meredith said: "I said that you've to call your mum to tell her we are going to go and visit her next Easter".
"Yeah, it's better I give her a call", he said. He got up and he took his cell phone. He took his seat in front of his wife, reaching the numbers menu, touched the number he was looking for and waited the call to be picked up. Instead to put the cell to his ear, he put it on the table and put it on speaker and he waited to his mum to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" said the woman.
"Hi mum! It's me, Derek"
"Hi Derek. How are you, son? Meredith, how is she?"
"We're fine mum" said Derek smiling.
"Hi, Mrs. Shepherd! How are you?" said Meredith smiling. She saw her mother – in- law once and they parted awkwardly but Meredith wanted to have a normal relationship with her. For her kids' sake.
"Meredith, my dear. I'm really fine. Your nieces and nephews are driving me crazy but I love them. And my newest grandbaby? How's Zola?" asked the older woman. For a moment, Meredith thought her mother-in-law was referring to her unborn baby. But then, she named Zola.
"She is fine, thank you. She is growing up quickly".
"I can't wait to have more photos of her" said the woman. Meredith looked her husband and he understood it's was time to tell his mum the news.
"Did you have any plans for the next Easter?" asked Derek.
"The usual dinner with your sisters", she said. She sensed something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Derek knew that his sisters were to their mother's for the holidays.
"Could you put three more plates when you'll lay the table? We're going to spend Easter with you".
"You, Meredith and Zola will spend Easter with us?" she said. She wanted to be sure. The last time she saw her son and daughter- in- law, it was after the shooting. After the crash, they was so scared to flight that go to NY was impossible.
"Yes, we're going to spend a week to your house. Could you not tell the others we're coming? We want surprise them."
"Oh Derek. Of course. It'll be a wonderful surprise for your sisters. I'm so happy to see you and Meredith again. Finally I can see Zola". Derek smiled. Meredith too. She was right. Go and spend Easter with his family had been a right move.
They talked about the house and their jobs for a while. Then, they said goodbye to each other.
"She was happy", said Meredith in the safety of their bedroom.
"She was", replied her husband. She put her head on his shoulder and went to sleep.
Derek was so engrossed in his thought that he didn't realized Meredith was watching him. Meredith saw him smiling and she asked him why he was smiling. When she didn't get any answer, she came closer to him and she saw him deep in thought. She moved her hand in front of his eyes in order to catch his attention.
She touched lightly his arm and Derek saw her smiling at him.
"So why there is a beautiful smile on your face?" she asked her husband.
"Nothing. I was watching my beautiful pregnant wife walking around the room" he said carefully hugging her. He kissed her sweetly on her lips. She moaned as she deepened the kiss. They ended the kiss and their forehead went one against the other.
"We have to finish packing" she said reluctantly without making any attempt to move. She was comfy where she was. They parted and finished packing.
The morning in which their flight was due, they were ready to leave for NY. Their bags were inside the car's trunk. Their flight was leaving later in the morning, so they were able to finish some things before leaving for the airport.
The car ride to the airport was uneventful. Zola was babbling and Meredith was sleeping. She was so tired.
The flight was calm and uneventful. Zola was excited. Even if this wasn't the first time for the little girl in a plane, she was so excited. Her father did his best to keep her occupied, but the little girl was determined to walk in the plane's aisle. Only when she reached for her mother's arms, she calmed herself down. She put her little arms around her mother's neck and went to sleep.
"Finally", whispered Derek.
"Yeah. She was so excited" said Meredith kissing Zola's brown hair. "I hope your family will welcome her" she said loud enough to Derek to understand.
"Oh Meredith" said Derek moving his body towards his wife. "Of course, they'll welcome Zola. And you", he said putting his hand on Meredith's belly. "You're my wife, the mother of my children." She nodded and kissed her daughter. She rested her cheek on her daughter's head and closed her eyes. Derek spent the remained flight watching his family sleeping.
The arrival in NY was normal even if there was a slight delay in receiving the luggage. Luckily their luggage were the first, because Zola was a little fussing. She was tired even if she slept during the long flight. When Derek took their luggage, they went straight to the rental office in order to pick the car he reserved for the week. While he was putting the luggage in the trunk, Meredith was strapping Zola in the car seat her father ordered.
Derek's mom's house was not distant from the airport. During the ride, Derek pointed some things he was familiar with. His favorite shop or the place where his father took him and his sisters to eat ice cream. Meredith listened everything he said in silence, watching him while he talked.
Turning in a large street near the city centre, Derek stopped in front of a large, colored house, with flowers and plants.
"We're here" said Derek putting his hands on his legs and watching Meredith for her reaction. She breathed deeply and told him "Will you stay with me all the time?" she said watching the garage's door.
Derek, sensing her fear, took her hand and said "Don't worry. I won't leave your side". Breathing deeply again, she opened her door and step out. Derek did the same and while Meredith took a sleeping Zola in her arms, he took their luggage. Reaching the house, he put one luggage down in order to open the door.
Once they were inside, Derek said out loud "Anybody home?"
A woman came out the kitchen. When she saw Derek, the paper she had in her hand went down.
"Derek!?" she called unsure if her eyes were right.
"Mom!" he said opened his arms. She run in his arms and hugged her son some minutes.
"I missed you mom" he said hugging tightly his mother,
"I missed you too", she said kissing his cheek.
"Mom" he said releasing the woman " do you remember Meredith?" indicating the woman behind him.
"Hi Mrs. Shepherd", said Meredith. Zola began to stir and opened her eyes.
"Mommy" said the little girl.
"Hi baby girl. Did you have a nice nap?" said Meredith. Zola nodded and hidden her face in her mother's neck. Meredith was aware of her mother - in – law's presence, but her first priority was her daughter.
"Hi Meredith" she said warmly to her daughter – in – law. She smiled watching the little girl Meredith had in her arms.
"Is she…" she asked
"Yes, she is. She is Zola. Our daughter", said Meredith watching her daughter.
"She is a little shy with strangers", said proudly Derek.
"Zola, there is a person I want you to meet" said Derek taking the little girl from Meredith.
Zola watched the strange woman with curiosity.
"Hi Zola. I'm your nana" said Derek's mom to the little girl. Zola hidden her head in her father's neck.
"Oh Derek. She is beautiful. How old is she?" said the smiling woman.
"She is almost two" replied Meredith. Derek's mom hugged Meredith and she noticed her baby belly. Without adding anything and asking for permission with her eyes, she put her hands on Meredith's belly. Warm tears were running down her cheeks. She hugged Meredith again.
"My baby boy has a beautiful wife, a perfect daughter and a baby on the way. I wish your father was here", she said crying again. Derek hugged her mother and dried her tears. She sniffed and looked Meredith again.
"I'm so happy Meredith and please call me Carolyn. You're part of this family now."
Meredith nodded.
"Your sisters will be here shortly. I guess you'll rest for a while".
"Yes. This young lady needs a shower" he said tickling Zola.
"Your room is ready and I put your old crib near the bed" she said cleaning her nose. Derek nodded, passed Zola to Meredith, reached for the luggage and climbed the stairs to go to his room. Carolyn stared the couple climb the stairs. Her baby boy was there with his own family and she was so happy.
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