Meredith looked at her Dad. "Am I in overnight?"

Richard nodded, "Alex will duck home and get you a bag of things."

"Ok" she said quietly

"I'm going to get a copy of your ultrasound Mer, then I think I'll drag my husband home." Addie told her. Meredith nodded and smiled a thank you.

"Dinner?" Alex asked. "You're missing out on tea, what do you want and I'll grab it on the way back."

"Yeah" Meredith smiled, "pizza, you know how I like it."

"Ok, I'll get going." Alex told her as he headed for the door.

"Oh lex!" Meredith called out to him. "Bring Freddie"

Derek looked at her. "Freddie?" he asked.

Mark laughed.

"Uncle Richard is there anything you need me to do?" Bailey asked.

Richard shook his head. "It's ok Miranda, go home to Tucker."

Christina looked on confused.



"See you Mandy" Meredith called.

"Bye Mer" She patted Meredith foot.

"Com on Mark" Richard gestured. "Oh and yang, go grab yourself a coffee and a bite to eat. They need a moment."

Christina nodded before turning on her heel and leaving.

"A word Derek" Mark walked to the door, leaving Richard with Meredith. Derek reluctantly followed.

Sensing his moment to quickly talk to Meredith. Richard moved back to Meredith's bedside. "I want you to be honest with Derek about your health." He told her. "You can't keep this from him. If you love him, you'll tell him and if he loves you like he said he does he won't run at the news."

"What if this is too much for him?" she asked.

He could see the fear in her eyes.

"Just remember Daddy is here" he told her "I'll spend the night in the couch in my office. Page me if you need me."

"Love you Daddy" Mer told him.

"Love you too baby girl." he told her as he kissed her on the forehead.



"Remember I'm in my office." he told her one last time as he walked to the door.

"Night daddy" she whispered.

"Sweet dreams little one" he countered.

Outside:

Mark stepped out of Meredith's room.

"What now Mark?" Derek groaned. He already felt like his first day had been the longest day of his life.

"Look Derek, my baby sister has some pretty big things to tell you. One of the things I dare say she will share with you tonight." Mark told him

"You mean there's more than her being pregnant?" Derek teased.

Mark raised his eyebrows. "You can't make light of this Derek. Believe me I used to try. But I'm telling you that if you don't love her as much as you say you do, if you're not completely in this, then keep walking now, and don't bother going back in there. But if you are in this, then go listen to her and love her. If you hurt her, I will kill you."

Derek tilted his head. "Are you done?" he asked "Because I really need to get back in there."



Mark grumbled at him.

"Look Mark, I get that she is your baby sister. I've noticed that she has a fear of people leaving her. Is that because you intimidate them and scare them off?"Derek asked.

Richard had opened the door and heard the end of Derek's little snipe. He looked at Marks clenched fists. Derek smiled. "I see I have hit a nerve."

Richard cleared his throat. "I suggest you not talk about things you don't know or understand.'" Richard snapped.

Addie walked up to the group and could sense the tension. She had spotted Marks clenched fists. Addie slipped her arms around Marks waist. "You ready to go home babe?" she asked.

"Let me just say a quick goodbye to Mer" he told her,

both entered the room to give Meredith a quick goodbye. Mark made Meredith promise that if she needed him she would page.

Mark and Addie left, Richard watched them leave before turning back to Derek. "You've previously hurt my son, he can take it. I don't like it, and I won't tolerate you hurting my baby girl, because u will live to regret it."

Derek nodded, he figured he was right in thinking that they had scared away anybody she had gotten close to.


Richard turned and left.

Derek walked slowly back into the room. Meredith was sitting up watching him. "Hey" he said quietly. As he reached her side.

"You hit a nerve with Mark." Meredith said to him.

"I made a joke about something that apparently wasn't funny." Derek said grudgingly.

"Der, I know my family is protective of me. That's why I have been so hesitant." she told him. "Most don't understand, but if you stick around long enough you will."

Derek sighed" Mer we've been together for 15 months. I've picked up my life and career to be here with you. When will you see I am in this?" he pleaded.

Meredith sighed and reached for his hand.

"Do you know all I've been told since I have been here and your family found out about us is that if I'm not intending to stick around then I should walk away now. What do I have to do to prove to them that I'm in this with my whole heart?" he asked.

"Der" Meredith pulled him to sit down on the bed. "Listen to me, would be a good start. What I do have to tell you is pretty big and will explain to you why they are so protective."


Derek nodded. "Ok hit me with it" he told her as he shifted to face her.

"Ok, well I'm going to start from the beginning." she replied.