Meredith was nervous as she opened the door. She was worried because her last words to Derek had been pretty mean, and now she was going to see him with their kids. They had tried not to fight in front of their kids, but she was afraid he would be too mad to avoid an immediate fight. Zola burst into the house and started screaming "Daddy, Daddy" as she hurled herself into her father's lap. He didn't even have a chance to get up from the sofa.

"They had dinner at daycare, but Zola, would you like dessert with Daddy and Aunt Amy?"

"Yes, can we have ice cream sundaes?"

"Sure," Meredith said, smiling, "I'd be happy to make sundaes." She was glad that Zola had chosen something well within her skill set. She put Bailey down on the sofa next to his dad. "Bailey, I think you want vanilla?

"Nilla," he said with a big smile.

"Mommy, I want strawberry," said Zola.

"And coffee for you, Derek?"

"You got it," said Derek with a smile.

"And Amy what do you like?"

"I'll have chocolate," said Amy. "Glad to see you in the kitchen."

"I also make a mean grilled cheese. I'd be happy to make you one anytime."

"I love mommy's grilled cheese," said Zola.

"Derek, how do you guys eat when I'm not here to serve as family cook?" asked Amy, figuring that she would try to cut the tension in the room."

"Either I cook or we have take-out."

"It's a good think you make so much money," said Amy with a smile. She liked teasing her brother.

"My new job doesn't pay that well. Meredith's going to be the primary bread winner now."

"Daddy, what new job?" asked Zola.

Derek stared at Meredith, with reproach. She was making him move to DC; the least she could have done was break the news to Zola.

"I'm going to be working for the President. I'm going to Washington, D.C. tonight, after I put you and Bailey to sleep."

"Oh. But you'll be coming home so we can go to the zoo on Saturday?"

"No, Zola, I'm going to be in Washington, D.C. for at least a couple of weeks before I can come home. Mommy can take you to the zoo."

"Yes, Zola, I'll take you and Bailey to the zoo," said Meredith as she handed out the sundaes. Derek was usually the one who took the kids to the zoo, but she was happy to fill in for him. She wanted her children to have a childhood full of happy excursions with their parents. She couldn't remember ever going to the zoo although it is possible her father took her when she was younger than Zola and she forgot about it.

"I want Daddy to come, too," said Zola with a pout.

"I'd love to come, sweetie, but I have work to do. But I hope you come visit me in Washington and we can go to the National Zoo. That zoo has pandas."

"I love pandas." Zola screamed. "Can we go this week-end?"

"No sweetie, but sometime soon," said Derek with a smile. He was happy to think that his family would come to see him. He was pleased that Meredith didn't say anything to contradict this happy scenario. Maybe there was hope. "Now it's time for me to read bedtime stories, so come with me to your bedroom," he said, picking up Bailey. Derek enjoyed the bedtime routine, especially reading to his stories, so he wanted to treasure this last night together.

"That's great. I'll clean up," said Meredith.

"I'll take you to the airport," volunteered Amy. "We should leave in an hour."

"Okay," said Derek with a frown.

"I'll take him if you can stay with the kids." said Meredith. That would give Derek an hour with the kids and then give her some time to talk to him.

"No problem."

An hour later, Meredith went looking for Derek. He was still in Zola's room, watching her sleep.

"Derek, it's time to go," she whispered, trying not to wake Zola.

"Okay," he said reluctantly. He went to their bedroom and grabbed his suitcases. On his way out, he gave his sister a big hug. "I really appreciate your help with the kids," he told her.

"I love them both."

"You are their favorite aunt."

"I'm the only aunt they have a chance to see regularly," she said with a smile.

Meredith frowned as she overheard them. Derek noticed the frown, and he realized his words had touched on a sore point. He decided to make amends, "Zola adored Lexie. I wish she were here. She and Amy would really be a great team. Lexie had great promise in neuro."

"I enjoyed working with her. She was much better at talking to Derek than me," said Amy.

Meredith smiled wistfully. "Derek was a great big brother for Lexie. And Lexie was a wonderful aunt. But it's great that you're here, Amy. The kids adore you. And Derek, we've got to head out to the airport now."

They walked to the car, and he threw his bags in the trunk. Derek went to drive.

"I can drive, if you want."

"I like to drive, and you'll get to drive on the way home." They got in the car, and both were hesitant to say anything. Derek wanted to avoid distracted driving, and nothing was more distracting than fighting with his wife.

Meredith decided to start. "I know you're mad at me for pushing to you go."

"Well, this job created a dilemma. There were three options. My first choice was moving the whole family to DC, with you working at a great hospital, James Madison. My second choice was staying here, with you. But you seem to like the third choice, you staying here with the kids and me living 3000 miles away in DC. It hurts, Meredith, that you want me to live 3000 miles away."

"I'm sorry. You have a great job offer; it's the job of a lifetime. I don't want you to give it up. I don't want you to resent me or the kids."

"But you don't want to live with me."

"Not in D.C."

"And you didn't want me to stay here."

"No."

"I'm very hurt."

"Derek, let me try to explain. I always felt that my mother resented me, that she didn't achieve everything she wanted because of me. And I don't want you to resent me."

"I'm not your mother, Meredith, and you're mother was out of touch with reality. She was one of the most prominent surgeons of her time."

"She thought she could have done more. I also think she thought Richard would have left with her if it hadn't been for me."

"That's also ridiculous. Richard loves you like a daughter."

"I know. But you need this opportunity. Being here has made you miserable. It's not just me. Look at how you treated Amy. You wanted her job, Derek, and you were willing to hurt her to get it. That's not like you. You need to do this work."

"But what about us and the kids?"

"Obama's not going to be President forever."

"The job is not a political appointment, Meredith. And he leaves office in January 2017, two years from now. I don't want to miss the next two years with Zola and Bailey. You know, you didn't see your dad after you were five. I don't get why you are want them to live 3,000 miles away from me."

"That's the toughest part of this, but I know that you're going to be a great dad, skyping with them every night and visiting when you can. And I'll bring them to DC some times. Lots of families live apart because of jobs. Just think of all the soldiers. . ."
"Meredith, they don't have a choice. You did, and you want me to live 3000 miles away."

"Look, let's see how this works for the next three months, and we can talk again. We'll set up a schedule for visits, and we'll see how it goes. Zola does want to go to the National Zoo."

"Sounds like a plan."
"And no other women, Derek," Meredith said.

"You're a handful, Meredith, and I'm not looking for another woman."

"That's great."

"And no flirting with other men, Meredith."

"I don't think anyone would be interested. It's not like I'm going to have time to hang out in bars, what with being a single mom to two kids. So don't worry about that."
"Okay," he said with a bit of a smile, as he parked the car by the departures gate. "Time for me to go."
"Have a good flight. Try to sit in an exit row. Flying still makes me nervous."
"Commercial flights are much safer than small planes. Don't worry."

"Text me when you land, so I know you've arrived. I'll worry no matter what."

"Okay," he said. He got out of the car and removed his bags. She got out of the passenger seat and went around the back of the car. They exchanged glances, and he kissed her softly. "I'll try to call home at bedtime every night."
"Okay."

He took his bags to the porter, and Meredith got in the car and drove away immediately, without a backward glance, as tears starting running down her cheek.