Chapter 8

"Mommy!" Conner screamed running toward Meredith. She bent and caught him mid air with a quiet groan. She saw Derek grinning behind Conner and gave him a wink.

"Conner." Meredith cheered back. She heard Conner's giggles in her ear as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. That's what I needed.

"Hey, Mer." Derek smiled stuffing his hands in his pockets. Meredith smiled back at him before she put Conner on the floor in the lobby.

"Hey." She breathed. Meredith took the few steps over to him, placed her hand on his chest and gave him a soft kiss like they would do it for the rest of their lives. That's the second thing I needed. Derek looked at her in shock.

"You just… In the lobby." Derek whispered stunned. Meredith smiled up at him and slid her hands to his shoulders.

"You want me to do it again?" She asked laughing. Derek smiled at her as he placed his hands at her waist and wiggled his eyebrows.

"No, it's Derek's turn." Conner stated digging through his backpack. Meredith and Derek starred at Conner with confusion.

"What?" They asked together. Conner looked up at them.

"Mommy does something, then Derek does something. That's how it goes. Derek makes morning juice then Mommy makes morning juice." Morning juice? Oh yeah that's what I called coffee when Conner was little. Conner shrugged and pulled a chocolate bar out of his bag with a bright smile on his face.

"Do you want a kiss?" Derek asked softly. Meredith turned back to him and smiled, then nodded her head. Derek grinned back and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips. Conner took a bite out of his chocolate bar and sighed.

"Oh! Mommy, I got to help Derek." Conner jumped up and down excitedly. Derek looked down at him and lifted his eyebrows. What does that mean!

"Really, what did you do?" Meredith asked grabbing Conner's hand and walking toward the elevators as Derek guided her with his hand resting on her lower back.

"Oh, I helped him learn his alphabet." Conner answered. Meredith softly giggled and looked over at Derek.

"He even helped me spell his name. Did you know your son could spell his full name?" Derek asked. Meredith nodded her head and smiled at Derek.

"He is a very smart boy. He learned how to do that just before his fourth birthday." Meredith answered. Conner nodded his head with a proud grin on his face.

"Nice, monster." Derek gave Conner a high five.

"Conner. C. O. N. N. E. R. Everett. E. V. E. R. E. T. T. Grey. G. R. E. Y. Conner Everett Grey." Conner gleamed with happiness.

"Every good, Conner." Derek smiled. Conner shrugged and took a bite out of his chocolate bar.

"Thank you for the chocolate." He said looking up at the pair of adults standing shoulder to shoulder.

"I thought you would like it." Meredith smiled down at him.

"Now you're tied with Derek." Conner nodded his head and smiled up at his mother. Tied with Derek! When was I losing to Derek?

"What does that mean?" Meredith said angrily. Conner's eyebrows shot up and his eyes went wide with terror.

"It means you are awesome and he meant you are now above and beyond Derek." Derek answered. Conner nodded his head really fast.

"Yeah what Derek said." He quickly answered. That's really sweet, but Conner can talk for himself.

"Thank you." Meredith mumbled. They hit the right floor and Meredith dragged her son to daycare with her persistent boyfriend on her heals.

MDMDMDM

"So, Meredith, about our date tonight." Derek whispered in her ear.

"Yeah?" Meredith asked jogging toward the pit. Derek sighed and pulled her by the elbow into the nearest room."What are you doing?" She growled. Derek rolled his eyes and pinned her up against the door.

"Trying to talk to my beautiful girlfriend." Derek answered. I'm trying to work.

"Derek." She whispered with a fierce fire in her eyes. Derek grinned. Don't grin like you know what I'm thinking or like you think I'm turned on because I most certainly am not.

"You know I like it when you eyes turn that shade of green. It means you're angry and angry Meredith is a really hot Meredith." Derek breathed against her lips. She took a deep breath in and closed her eyes momentarily. Don't let him get to you. You can wait until tonight. Right?

"I'm working, Derek." She whispered with a hint of annoyance. Derek chuckled and leaned his forehead against hers.

"I'm working too. I have a surgery in thirty minutes." Derek responded. Meredith put her hands on his chest and lightly pushed.

"Not in the hospital." She whispered. Derek tried to pull an innocent face. Stop. That doesn't work after what you did.

"What are you talking about?" He asked taking hold of one of her hands. Meredith rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't play that game." She laughed. Derek frowned at her and leaned his forehead on hers.

"It was worth a try." Derek backed off and motioned to the door for her. "Have it your way, sweetie." He smiled. Meredith looked at him questionably before reaching for the handle and slowly turning it. "Work hard, baby." Derek smiled.

"What's with the pet names?" Meredith asked quickly turning around.

"Just showing my love, honey." Derek grinned. Meredith groaned and quickly exited the supply closet Derek just a few steps behind.

"Hey, Mer." Cristina grinned. Meredith rolled her eyes and continued her jogging toward the pit. It's not what you think. Get your mind out of the gutters.

"Shut up, Cristina!" Meredith called out.

"Sure!" Cristina called back. "You better tell me later!" She finished off. God that just sounds wrong.

MDMDMD

"Meredith, can you say something to Izzie about her walking around the house in her underwear?" George stuttered. Meredith looked over at him and laughed. Ugh I'm not your mother.

"You talk to her." Meredith replied.

"You should talk to her it's your house." George defended.

"I don't think she'll listen to me." Meredith shook her head. George sighed and followed her around the hall.

"You have the five year old in the house." George reminded. My five year old is fine. Izzie doesn't do it in front of him.

"I know I have a five year old boy in the house. Izzie makes sure to avoid somewhere that Conner might be." Meredith shrugged. "I talked to her about standing in front of Conner half naked. She gets dressed before he wakes up." Meredith informed.

"Yeah but she walks around half naked and it's not appropriate." George informed.

"What is this about?" Meredith laughed.

"N… nothing." George stuttered. "She… she shouldn't be walking around the house in her underwear in front of Conner." George responded weakly.

"Is this because you have a crush on Izzie?" Meredith laughed.

"No." Liar.

"You like Izzie." Meredith grinned.

"No. No she's not the one I'm attracted to." George informed. The one!

"The one! So there is a one." Meredith smiled.

"Nnnn." George stuttered.

"Grey, George, get Karev and go to the pit. Shepherd has a trauma coming in." Bailey ordered."

"Shepherd's in surgery." Meredith said with a smile from George still on her face.

"No he isn't. Got called before he could start." Bailey stated.

MDMDMD

"You excited for tonight?" Derek asked with a little skip in his step.

"Hmmmm, no." Meredith grinned. Derek gasped and let his mouth gape open.

"What?" He asked dramatically. Meredith giggled and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"What are we going to do?" She asked turning toward him slightly. Derek grinned as he followed her to wherever she was going.

"That is a surprise." Derek grinned. Meredith rolled her eyes at him and pouted her lips.

"That's no fun." She mumbled. Derek shook his head and chuckled at her. He bumped shoulders with her and dug his hands into his pockets.

"Oh but it is." He replied. Ass. Meredith gave him a look and he stuck his bottom lip out playfully.

"You are an ass." She whispered. Derek laughed.

"You like my ass." He grinned. "See you later." Derek whispered before running away.

MDMDMD

"Hey, Izzie. Derek said you agreed to um… babysit Conner." Meredith said walking up to Izzie.

"Yeah. It can't be too bad, right. Plus your boyfriend is giving me a good price." Izzie smiled.

"So you want to do it." Meredith carefully said.

"Yeah. Conner's a fun kid. And it's not like all night. Shepherd said you would be back around midnight or something." Izzie shrugged.

"Great. Here are my car keys. Conner's car seat should be in there. I think Derek put it in after he got here. If its not there I should still be here when you get off. So just come and get me. I told the daycare you were going to pick him up. Is that okay?" Meredith asked.

"Yeah. Where's the daycare?" Izzie asked. Meredith informed her where it was around and how to get to it.

"Thank you, Izzie." Meredith sighed.

CCCCCCC

"Hello, I'm Izzie Stevens. I'm here to pick up Conner Grey." Izzie said talking to one of the daycare instructors.

"Izzie!" Conner yelled out. What are you doing here? Are you going to give me brownies? No cookies. No cake.

"Hey, Conner." Izzie smiled bending down at look at him. "I'm going to bring you home and hang out with you." Izzie informed. Conner smiled at her.

"So Mommy and Derek can go on their date?" He asked happily. Izzie gave him a confused look. Am I wrong?

"You know?" She asked standing back up. I help Derek set up. And helped Mommy go on the date.

"I helped." He smiled jumping up. Izzie nodded her head.

"Okay, I talked to doctor Grey again and she said you could take him." The daycare instructor informed happily.

"Great." Izzie exclaimed. "Do you have anything you need to bring with you?" Izzie asked Conner. Yeah. My backpack and my drawings.

"Do you have any brownies?" Conner asked walking over to his cubby. Izzie lifted her eyebrows.

"Um… at home." She answered. Yep. Conner grabbed his backpack, and drawings from inside his cubby.

"Hold… this." He said placing his drawings in her hands and smiled up at Izzie. He carefully placed his drawings in his backpack. Conner pulled the backpack on and grabbed Izzie's hand. You have warm hands.

"You ready to go?" Izzie asked pulling her purse tighter on her shoulder.

"Yep. Can we play soccer when we get home?" Conner asked swinging their hands.

"Um… what do you mean?" Izzie asked pushing on the elevator. You don't know what soccer is?

"You know kick the soccer ball back and forth. Try and score on each other." Conner explained. I thought you were a doctor like Mommy, Izzie.

"Lets eat dinner first then we can see how dark it is outside and maybe we can play." Izzie answered.

The elevator doors opened and Conner screamed, "Cristina!" He ran into the elevator and jumped into Cristina's arms that were holding charts. Cristina quickly dropped the charts and caught him before he could fall. Crissy! I can't believe it's you!

"Hi, Conny." Cristina softly laughed. Her cheeks went red as she saw Izzie walk onto the elevator after Conner.

"I haven't seen you in forever." Conner exclaimed dramatically as Cristina put him on the floor and picked up her charts.

"I saw you three days ago." Cristina laughed. I know!

"Yeah, forever ago." Conner sighed. Izzie laughed and watched the hardcore intern act like an awesome aunt to the cutest little boy.

"Okay, Mr. Dramatic." Cristina laughed standing and pulling Conner toward her so people from the floor they were stopped at could get on. Conner's back collided with her legs and she swayed slightly.

"Where have you been, Crissy?" Conner asked looking up at her. I missed you. I didn't get to joke with you.

"I've been working." Cristina answered. Well I know that. Mommy is doing that and I see her. Derek is working and I see him. George is working and I see him. Izzie is working too and I see her.

"I know but why haven't I seen you forever." Conner sighed looking ahead again.

"It's been three days, Conny. I've been working then going home to sleep." Cristina shrugged.

"Okay. I missed you." Conner turned around and looked up at her. I love you.

"I missed you too." Cristina smiled down at him. Good. "This is my stop." Cristina softly informed. Conner looked down at the floor, but let her pass.

"I love you, Cristina Yang!" He called out before she could take a step out of the elevator.

"Yeah, yeah. Me too." Cristina responded before dashing away from the elevator. Yay she did it!

MDMDMD

Meredith silently stood behind the crowd of people standing in Liz's doorway. As they dispersed she quietly stepped into the room. "Mmm. Your mom's a bigger woman." Liz stated.

"You were her scrub nurse." Meredith pointed out smiling at her.

"Liz Fallon. Come here." She said putting her hand out to Meredith. Meredith smiled as she walked in and shook her hand. I just want to get this over with.

"Meredith Grey." Meredith greeted.

"Yeah." Liz nodded her head.

"She wanted me to send her regards." Meredith lied. Liz gave her a look. Can she tell I'm lying!

"That doesn't sound like her." She dully said.

"Excuse me." Meredith said. Crap she actually knew my mother. She didn't just work with her.

"The Ellis Grey I know… didn't have regards for anyone except Ellis Grey. But you know that already." Yeah that pretty much sums up Ellis Grey, my mother. "Where is she now?" Liz asked suddenly looking up at Meredith. Um….

Meredith took a deep breath. "Traveling." She nodded her head. That's what I'm saying, right? Traveling?

"Traveling?" Liz said looking at Meredith as if it could never happen.

"Yeah." Meredith answered.

"Uh… is she practicing?"

"Not so much." Meredith slowly informed. I hate lying about this.

"Doesn't sound like her either. She was all work. Just like me. She never left the hospital, but you know that too, don't you." Liz said nodding her head toward Meredith. Meredith stood there staring at her and waiting for her to start talking again. "Is she well?"

"She's fine." Meredith nodded her head. As fine as someone with early on set Alzherimer's could be.

"Good." Liz stared her down.

"Just wanted to send her regards." Meredith informed trying to back out of the room.

"What are you doing now?" Liz quickly asked. Meredith stood there.

"I'm an intern here. I have a son." Meredith nodded her head. Liz nodded her head.

"He know Ellis?" She asked.

"Yes. He sees her sometimes. When she can see him." Meredith quickly answered. Liz nodded her head.

"Alright." She said giving Meredith a look as Meredith walked out of the room. God that was scary. I felt like I was in the principle's office.

CCCCCCC

"We're home." Izzie sighed. Conner unbuckled his car seat. Can I have brownies now? Izzie opened the door and he jumped out. She grabbed his things out of the car and walked to the door with him.

"Can I have brownies? No cookies. What did you make this morning? Can I have some of those muffins you made last night? Why do you cook so much? Mommy says you love food. Mommy also likes to eat a lot of food. So do I. Do you eat a lot? Are you like some of Mommy's friends in Boston who liked food but don't eat much because they thought they were fat. That's stupid because they weren't big like some people can be." Oh no I said stupid! "Don't tell Mommy I said stupid. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I didn't call anyone stupid. I just said what they thought was stupid. Don't tell Mommy." Conner begged turning to Izzie. She looked down at him surprised.

"I won't tell your Mommy." Izzie said. Thank you!

"You're the bestest." Conner exclaimed running around the house.

MDMDMD

"Hey, sorry I made you wait." Meredith sighed as she reached him sitting down in a lobby chair quietly looking at a journal.

"No problem. I'm happy to wait for you." Derek smiled as he stood and kissed her cheek. Meredith closed her eyes for a second. I just want to enjoy this moment. Derek rubbed her cheek with his thumb before she opened her eyes and smiled at him. "You okay?" Derek asked dropping his hand and picking up his bag.

"I'm… happy. Where are you taking me?" She asked grabbing his hand after she adjusted her purse on her shoulder.

"It's a surprise." Derek smiled. I hate surprises. Meredith frowned at him. "What's wrong? Conner said you would like a surprise." Derek asked afraid as they walked out of the hospital and into a light chill. Why would he say that?

"Nothing's wrong. So um… did you take Conner to the place you're taking me?" Meredith asked. Derek smiled a little as he opened her door and leaned in to kiss her cheek as she got settled.

"Yes. It's going to be okay. Trust me." Derek whispered in her ear before backing away and smiling at her as he closed the door. Meredith let out a deep breath. Don't freak out, Meredith. Don't freak out.

CCCCCC

"What's that?" Conner asked pointing at the casserole Izzie put on a plate for him. It looks like barf.

"Casserole. It's good. Try it." Izzie smiled over at him. Conner scrunched his face out and shook his head.

"Nope." Conner pushed the plate away and crossed his arms over his chest. That's yucky.

"Conner, you have to eat." Izzie informed. Conner lifted his eyebrows at her. No I don't.

"Do not." Conner said leaning forward at her. Izzie sighed and stood up picking up his plate.

"Fine. Then you're not eating." She informed. She walked back and sat down across from him starting to eat again. Yay I get to leave!

"Thank you." Conner informed started to hop off the seat.

"You're staying here until I finish eating." Izzie informed putting her hand up to stop him from leaving. Why?

"That's not fair." Conner whined.

"You chose not to eat dinner." Izzie said firmly. That doesn't make any sense. You can't make me stay here and not feed me.

"I have to go to the potty." Conner stated crossing his arms over his chest again.

"Go quickly and come back here. If you don't I'll come get you." Izzie informed.

"Fine." Conner groaned. He ran into the hallway and silently grabbed the landline phone off the front table then ran into the bathroom. He dialed the long ago memorized number and put the phone up to his ear.

MDMDMD

"You want to get out?" Derek asked unbuckling his seatbelt. Meredith turned and smiled at him.

"Yeah." She smiled unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Okay. Stay right there." Derek informed. He ran around the car and opened her door. Meredith broke out laughing and took his offered hand. This is too…

"Cheesy." Meredith murmured. Derek laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Thank you." Derek grinned. Meredith rolled her eyes. Dork. Her phone rang and they looked at each other with their eyebrows raised. "Go ahead." Derek whispered unwrapping his arm around her. Meredith sighed and dug her phone out of her pocket.

"Grey." She answered in a firm voice.

"Mommy!" Rung out a little voice. Derek turned his head and looked at Meredith. I don't know. Meredith shrugged at him, took his hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. She leaned into his warmth and Derek smiled.

"Hey, Conner. What's wrong?" Meredith asked wrapping her free arm around Derek's waist.

"Izzie won't let me eat!" Conner yelped. Meredith scrunched up her eyebrows and rubbed her cheek against Derek's chest trying to push back her annoying hair.

"Let me talk to Izzie." Meredith stated. Conner must have just misunderstood.

"Um… she's busy." Conner lied. You have to be the worst liar I know.

"Conner, does Izzie know you're on the phone?" Meredith said in her Mommy voice.

"Yes." Conner replied before Meredith could finish her last word. The least you could do is try to lie a little bit better. Actually that wouldn't be a good thing for me.

"Go get Izzie and give her the phone, Conner." Meredith firmly ordered. The pair reached the railing and Derek turned his head to kiss her temple. He silently stood beside her and watched the water below the ferryboat. Why can't there be a moment where we can be alone with no interruptions, at a time that isn't midnight after a long shift.

"Okay." Conner sadly whispered.

Meredith her shuffling and then, "Hello?" Izzie's bright voice said with a mad side that usually only happened in the morning.

"Conner says you aren't feeding him. I'm not accusing you of anything, but I would like to know why my child is saying you are not feeding him." Meredith quickly got to the point.

"I made a casserole, but he wouldn't touch it." Izzie informed. Oh my god you are an idiot.

"You don't make a casserole for a five year old. I know Conner eats almost anything, but if it looks like barf or anything that looks gross to a five year old he won't eat it. Izzie feed him some of the chicken nuggets in the freezer." Meredith sighed. Derek chuckled a little. Meredith glared at him and he coughed into his hand.

"Okay. Sorry, Meredith." Izzie mumbled. Don't apologies to me.

"Whatever next time you'll know. Give the phone back to Conner." Meredith ordered.

"Mommy?" Conner said with a little glee in his voice.

"Conner, you shouldn't have lied to Izzie. And you shouldn't have been rude about what she had made." Meredith stated.

"I'm sorry, Mommy." Conner whispered. Damn I hate it when your voice gets that sad. Meredith could just see his head hanging.

"It's okay. I love you, Conman." Meredith smiled.

"I love you too, Mommy." Conner happily replied. Meredith smiled and squeezed Derek's waist.

"Do you want to say goodnight to Derek? We won't be home until you're in bed and asleep." Meredith softly asked. Derek looked down at her in surprise and with a glint of happiness in his eyes.

"Yes!" Conner shouted into the phone. Meredith shook her head and handed the phone to Derek.

"Hey, Conner." Derek grinned. Meredith laughed a little and dug her face into his warm chest.

"Derek! Mommy said I can't see you cause you and Mommy won't be home for a long time." Conner informed.

"Yeah. I'll see you in the morning hopefully." Derek said softly.

"Cause you're a surgery and people need your help anytime?" Conner stated.

"Exactly." Derek nodded his head. Meredith turned her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. "Goodnight, monster. I love you. Sleep well and be nice to Izzie." Derek smiled.

"Okay. Goodnight, Derek. I love you." Conner responded.

"I'm going to give Mommy the phone, okay?" Derek softly said.

"Okay." Conner whispered. Derek rubbed Meredith's back and handed her the phone as she leaned back off him.

"I love you, Conman. Sleep tight. Be good for Izzie." Meredith softly whispered into the phone.

"I love you too, Mommy. Can you come in and give me a kiss even if I'm asleep?" Conner whispered. Oh baby. You have no idea how much I love you. And you have no idea how many times I've come into your room at night just to kiss your soft cheek.

"Yes, baby." Meredith whispered with a smile on her face.

"My nuggets are ready. Bye, Mommy." Conner said with more pip in his voice.

"Bye." Meredith heard Conner hang up so she slowly hung up herself. Meredith closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I've left my baby with a babysitter before. Derek's lips brushed against her cheek then her temple.

"He'll be fine, Mer." Derek whispered. Meredith opened her eyes, nodded her head and allowed Derek to pull her into a hug. "You want to know where we're going?" Derek asked trying to pull her happiness back. Yes!

"Where?" Meredith asked looking up into his eyes showing him that certain sparkle in her eye.

"I'm going to have to show you." Derek grinned. I hate you. Meredith pulled back and slapped his chest with the back of her hand.

"Ass." She grumbled. Derek pulled her close, kissed her forehead and laughed with her.