Chapter Twenty-Four: Praying
"Derek…can you please say something?" Meredith asked cautiously, they had been sitting in silence in their booth at Joe's for 5 minutes now.
"Pregnant…with twins" Derek clarified.
Meredith just nodded not knowing what else to say, that pretty much summed it up.
"I need a drink" he said quickly making his way to the bar. He returned moments later a scotch for him and lemonade for Meredith.
"Here don't worry there's no alcohol in it" he told her passing her the drink.
"Thanks" she said softly.
"So Mark knows" Derek asked.
"Yeah, he was pretty mad to start with" Meredith told him.
"And now?" Derek asked looking into her eyes for the first time. Her usually dull green eyes were sparkling despite what had happened she seemed happier.
"He is getting used to it" Meredith said quietly.
"In other words he hates me more than he did in the first place, do you think I need to get myself a body guard or something?" Derek lightly joked causing Meredith to smile.
"I don't think that is necessary, he is just hurt by the fact that I was with another man after all the time we have been together" Meredith said truthfully.
"What about the way he hurt you" Derek asked still unsure of how Meredith could be so forgiving and understanding with a man who had cheated on her.
"We are moving past that Derek, he made a mistake, everyone makes mistakes" she said. "Now we need to make some decisions about the babies Derek" Meredith said firmly.
"What kind of decisions? If you're asking me if I want to be involved than of course I do, I would never turn away my own children" Derek told her.
"I know that, so that means you would want to come to appointments, ultrasounds that kind of thing" she asked sheepishly.
"If you wouldn't mind, and there is Mark to consider, just because I don't like him doesn't mean I don't want to step on his toes" Derek told her.
"Of course, and I've decided that once I'm out of my first trimester and there seems to be no problems then I will get the paternity test done, the sooner we know the better for everyone" Meredith surprised Derek with those words.
"So in a bit over a month we will know the truth" he asked.
Meredith nodded. "It will be best for everyone" she said softly.
"Okay so have you seen a doctor?" Derek asked curiously.
"Yeah I saw one at Mercy West but I am going to transfer to one at Grace it will be easier to have my doctor close" Meredith said.
"I agree, when you have an appointment next please just let me know" Derek said sincerely.
"Of course, well I need to get going Mark will be wondering where I am, thank you for taking this so well Derek, talk to you soon" Meredith placed a quick kiss on his cheek, grabbed her purse and headed for the parking lot.
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"Finally you're home" Mark stated jumping off the couch when he saw Meredith enter the house.
"It's only been an hour Mark" Meredith told him with a smile, she found it sweet that he had waited intently for her to return home.
"So how did it go?" he asked wandering into the kitchen and getting Meredith a glass of water.
"Thanks" she said as he passed her the drink. "It was okay, it took him a while to realise what I was saying, he thought I was just telling him so that he didn't hear it from anyone else" Meredith said truthfully she hadn't intended on hiding any details from Mark.
"Did you two work something out in terms of ultrasounds and that kind of stuff" Mark asked.
"Yeah he wants to be there for the appointments if its okay with you and he agrees that it is best if we get the paternity test just after the first trimester and everything is going well" Meredith explained.
"None of this is okay with me Meri but I am willing to do this for you, but I pray to God that the babies are mine, we will get the family we always wanted" Mark said softly wrapping his arms around the petite body of his wife which would soon change along with the pregnancy.
"I know that you want that so badly baby" she said resting her head on his shoulder. "But sometimes things just don't go to plan."
"I think this is my punishment for what I did to you" he whispered just audibly.
"Don't even think like that" Meredith said suddenly looking up into his eyes, stroking the side of his face. "We agreed that we wouldn't talk about the past."
"I know I'm sorry I just hate that we finally get to a good place and this happens, the only person I can blame is myself because if I hadn't have slept with Addison, you wouldn't have left and then you would have never met Derek" Mark said with such raw emotion.
"If those things had happened baby we would still have issues, I would still be distant and you would still be miserable, sometimes it's funny how things work out" Meredith said.
"I guess so, have you eaten?" he asked her pulling away.
Meredith shook her head.
"Meri you need to eat, keep your strength up, you're eating for 3 now" Mark reminded her. "What do you feel like? I can quickly make you something."
"Can you make me anything I like?" Meredith teased him.
"Depending what it is" he retorted playfully.
"Pancakes" she said. "I want pancakes."
"Pancakes are breakfast food Meredith, you can't have pancakes for dinner" Mark said sternly.
"But the babies want pancakes" she said pouting.
"Fine you know I can't resist that face" he said kissing the tip of her nose. "And I can't deny the babies food."
"Exactly!" she said snuggling into his chest. "I love you Mark, and I'm praying that the babies are yours too" she said looking into his eyes.