A/N Hi! Sorry for the lack of updates, I was away without my laptop and Internet access. The epilogue consists of present time action and flashbacks, I hope you don't get confused. Enjoy!

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The house was peacefully silent, a rare thing these days. Meredith trotted past the grand windows admiring the breathtaking panorama of Seattle. Derek was right, the view was much better from here. The Shepherds moved into their dream house on the cliff just a couple of days ago. Derek and Mark transported all their belongings from Meredith's mother's house while she was recovering in hospital.

She sat down crossing her legs, in the middle of the spacious living room, with stacks of photos and her laptop. She and Derek decided to go on with Bessie's scrapbook as well as starting a family one, and now the newest addition to the family couldn't be deprived of one. It felt like a good time to take care of that as it looked like they were going to make it through the whole afternoon nap for the first time. Meredith guessed she could use the quietness to have a good rest from the crying, wailing and changing diapers but she wasn't very tired. Her and her children sleep times didn't overlap very often, unfortunately.

"Can't believe it, they're sleeping like angels," said Derek striding into the living room. He sat behind his wife bringing her between his legs. He put two baby monitors on the floor and brought his arms around her waist as usual during her pregnancy. She could tell he was already missing her protruding belly, even if didn't yet fully shrink. He murmured into her neck, "What are you doing, sexy thing?"

Meredith rolled her eyes; he stubbornly kept calling her lame pet names since she initiated it all those months ago, the day of their reception at the hospital.

"I figured it's time to tidy it all up," Meredith pointed at the photos and pulled closer an album with light-green covers, "and start this. It took me almost two weeks to complete the scrapbook about Bessie."

"It'll go smoother this time," assured her Derek going through the printed pictures. "I'm here…"

"You are," she sighed happily lying back her head on his shoulder.

"Look, that should go first I think." He lifted up an image of her, the first they took since they knew there was another Shepherd on the way.

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FLASHBACK

Meredith got out of her car tiredly. It was well past nine p.m., long after Bessie's bedtime. She hated those evenings when she got pulled up in surgery and missed on telling her daughter a story or just a simple goodnight.

However, despite the overwhelming fatigue, she felt excited hearing Derek bustling around the kitchen, probably waiting up for her with dinner. She was tired already when she woke up this morning, which surprisingly enough was one of the reasons that made her excited… as well as her missed period.

"Hey," she heard his voice behind as she was hanging her coat.

"Hey," she smiled and walked up to him, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.

"Long day?" he muttered deepening the kiss, trapping her against the doorframe.

"Mhm," she nodded and rained his jaw with kisses. "I'm dead tired."

"Don't look like it," he murmured rubbing her sides. "I'll get you something to eat."

"Maybe later," she grinned and took his hand to lead him upstairs. "We've got to take care of something first."

He looked at her quizzically as she pushed him on the bed in their bedroom and smiled up, "I'll be right back."

"Meredith?" he asked when she reappeared carrying something in her hands. She sat beside him and he was able to see . She bought the test on her way back home to take it together with Derek. She wanted to give him everything, to include him in everything this time.

"Mer…" his heart beat out of his chest. "It's…"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Are you…?"

"That's what we want to check, right?" she chuckled leaning to him. "But… I think so, I feel it."

He gulped audibly, "How… how long do we have to wait?" he pointed at the test with his head.

"Uhm, three more minutes."

He put an arm around her and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, breathing deeply.

"Derek?" she asked with a frown. "Are… are you okay?"

He pulled his head away to face her and she saw his eyes were glistening. "Never better. You really think we're… you're…?"

"Well," she breathed out. "I'm late, about six days late. And I'm constantly tired, and I have this feeling about me, like there's a light inside me."

He kissed her cheek and smirked, "That would be... quick."

She giggled, "You know we're good at this."

He laughed at her words.

"Time's up," she whispered.

"Time… time's up," he repeated. They broke their gaze looked at the screen which showed a blue line.

"That means… ?" asked Derek out of breath.

All her face lit up with a wide smile, "Positive."

"Positive… positive…" he stammered cupping her face.

"Positive means we're having a baby, Derek," she smirked at Derek's incoherence.

He grabbed her into his arms and they fell back on the bed laughing. "Thank you… thank you," he whispered emotionally, "God, We're having a baby, Mer."

He kissed her soundly and sat up lifting her shirt up. Her stomach was smooth but for a silvery stretch mark on the right. But he knew that his growing baby was inside, another wonderful baby in the making that Meredith was giving him. He kissed her stomach reverently.

"Hey, baby," his warm breath tickled her skin. "It's your Daddy's here."

"Derek?" she giggled sitting up on her elbows. "What are you doing?"

"Introducing myself to our daughter or our son," he mumbled.

"What do you want them to be?" she managed to ask, her eyes staring into space. Derek was talking to their baby inside her belly, the father of her child was talking to her belly. That was what it felt like… Warm and safe…

"I'll be ecstatic with either one," he propped himself on one elbow while his fingertips grazed around her belly button.

"You're ready to be outnumbered three to one?"

He chuckled, "But I'm the Shepherd around here, Mama Sheep, remember?"

"Derek, do you ever want to have another child?" she asked tersely.

"Uhm…"

"If you do, you might want to keep your balls."

"Okay, I got that," he assured hurriedly. "I guess I have to keep my tongue when your hormones are kicking in."

"You guess right," she smiled approvingly.

"You heard that baby?" he leaned to Meredith's stomach once again. "Mommy's already mean to Daddy."

"Mommy?" they heard a tiny insecure voice of their daughter. Bessie was standing barefoot at the door, squeezing her favorite stuffed otter.

"Sweetie, why aren't you sleeping?" asked Meredith quickly sitting up.

Bessie didn't answer, standing rigidly with her back pressed against the doorframe.

"Sweetie, come here," said Meredith reaching her arms towards her daughter.

Bessie shook her head violently and hid her face behind her otter friend.

"Bessie, love?" Meredith felt her heart break seeing her sad eyes. She probably heard them talking about another son or daughter and didn't understand much. Derek scooped his reluctant daughter in his arms and brought her on the bed between him and Meredith who quickly hugged her and rocked her tightly.

"I love you, I love you, I love you," she chanted raining kiss all over her head.

"Baby?" Bessie looked up at Meredith skeptically.

"You're our baby, you'll always be our baby," Meredith caressed he cheek. "But we'll have another baby too."

"You'll have a little brother or sister," said Derek into her ear. "You'll be an older sister. That position comes with a lot of power," he chuckled.

Bessie crawled curiously to Meredith and lifted up her shirt just like Derek did. She frowned at the perfectly flat belly and peeked her head under Meredith's arm to her back.

"Nothin'! Where's baby?"

Derek took her palm and passed their fingers over Meredith's stomach. "The baby's in here, in Mommy's belly."

Bessie frowned up at Derek. "Baby too big!"

"The baby's really small now," explained Derek. "You were this small too."

"I were here?" asked Bessie studying Meredith's stomach. "How?"

"Uhm," Derek looked at his wife quickly.

"Well, go on, genius," she eyed him smugly.

"Er, you grew in Mommy's belly because Daddy loves Mommy very very much," he clarified.

"Hmmm," Bessie got lost in thought, a bit disbelieving.

"Lame," Meredith mouthed to Derek, grinning.

"Explain better, I'm all ears," he quipped indignantly. "I'm not going to give my two-year-old a gynecology lesson."

"Hi, baby," Bessie's tiny voice stopped their bickering. Meredith felt her eyes moisten as her little lips kissed her stomach delicately.

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"Mommy, you feel good?"

"Thank you, sweetie," Meredith opened her eyes to meet her little daughter's concerned eyes. "I'm good." She sat down for a minute hoping to calm down her queasy stomach, which momentarily caught Bessie's attention. It was Derek who trained her this way, her overprotective bonehead of a husband. He was hovering ever since the stick turned blue and the first appointment with Arizona only encouraged his attitude. Meredith thought to herself that he would spoon-feed her everyday if she asked him too. She couldn't really blame him. He was excited beyond belief to be involved. She would never forget the expression on his face when they heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time.

And although she sometimes called him overbearing she was grateful, for he was doing everything in his power to relieve the not so pleasant symptoms of her pregnancy, like the raging nausea. It was never that hard with Bess. For the last two days she was constantly sick, not able to retain much food inside.

She only hoped she would stand on her feet when Derek was back from the airport with his mom and sisters. She wanted to go with him but it was impossible for her to leave the house. She even took a few days off work. So Derek insisted that Bessie stayed as well, keeping an eye on her, and their Cherry-pie was doing magnificently.

"Little baby's good?" Bessie asked another question with a face of a doctor, standing on her tiptoes and placing her tiny palm on Meredith's stomach.

"Baby's good too," she smiled and caressed her blond locks. "You'll be an amazing older sister."

They heard a car pull up. "It must be Daddy with Grandma Carolyn and your Aunties." Meredith slipped from the barstool but she immediately regretted her sudden move. She gripped the edge of the counter feeling a little dizzy.

"Mommy, sit! Mommy, sit!" told her Bessie tugging at her sweater in the direction of the barstool.

"I'm fine, love. I'm fine. Don't worry," she inhaled deeply. Not now! Please, baby, don't let Mommy embarrass herself in front of Daddy's ugly sisters! She wasn't freaking out very much though. If they pushed her buttons, she could always play the pregnancy card. Hormones on the loose rocked, and they made you get away with everything.

The hall bustled with people and soon enough Carolyn entered the kitchen, followed by four younger women, one of whom Meredith recognized as Nancy while another had her arm around Derek.

"Meredith!" Carolyn took her in a hug. "It's so good to see you again, dear!"

"Thank you," Meredith said weakly. "We all missed you around here."

Carolyn cupped her face in her hands and squinted at her, "You look very pale, sweetheart. Derek said you weren't feeling well and there you have our little invasion…"

"I'm okay," Meredith waved her hand dismissively taking a quick glance at Derek who was observing her with concern. Apparently, he didn't divulge the happy news yet just as they decided.

Carolyn shot a knowing look but didn't press her daughter-in-law, greeting Bessie instead.

"Hi, I'm Ana," the sister who was hanging with Derek came forward and hugged her. "Derek's favourite sister-"

"So not true!" shouted a voice behind Ana. "I'm Derek's favorite!"

"That's Tess, don't mind her," Ana shook her head. "She's raving. Anyway, I'm happy to finally meet you. We've heard so much about you both from Ma and now from Derbear in the car. I feel like I already know you. Plus, you're married to my brother," said Ana with fake awe in her voice, "and you let him impregnate you, you're already a hero in my eyes!"

Meredith merely smiled. She'd love to reply with a witty comment but she didn't trust herself to open her mouth. Her nostrils suddenly caught whiff of a smell her stomach definitely didn't approve.

"There wasn't much of actual letting, wasn't there?" Nancy pushed Ana out of the way. "From what we heard it was rather an accidental knock-up. Long time no see, Meredith," she smiled sweetly and hugged her as well, though the contact was rather stiff, not natural like with Ana.

Then it her, doubly. Once, Nancy downgraded her daughter. Second, that horrible odor seemed to be her perfumes… or maybe her venom. Either way, her stomach wasn't going to support that. She look desperately towards the door. Crap, she'd never make it to the bathroom. She whirled on her heal and dived for the trash can under the sink, just in time for the contents of her stomach not to land on the floor.

"Sorry." Derek pushed his way through the kitchen and kept her hair back rubbing her middle.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Bessie yelled trying to wriggle out of Carolyn's grasp.

"I'm… sorry," coughed Meredith. "It's… the perfumes..."

"That's what I call a healthy reaction to Nancy," smirked Ana.

"I told you that odor stinks like a dead skunk, Nancypants," jeered Tess.

"Girls!" silenced them Carolyn and turned to Meredith and Derek, "When can I expect my next grandchild?"

"The due date's August the 20th," replied Derek absent-mindedly helping Meredith to stand up. "Maybe you should lie down, Mer."

"Nice to see you too, Nancy," said Meredith wiping her mouth with a towel as Derek led her out of the kitchen. "Just don't you ever call my child an accidental knock-up."

"Nancy, I'm taking you to your hotel when I'm back downstairs," said Derek firmly. "When you meet my family the next time, I want you to treat them with respect. And if you can't share my happiness, shut your mouth up."

A few minutes after Derek left her in their bedroom, Meredith heard a light knock on the door.

"Come in."

"Hi, I'm Kathleen. We haven't had time to be properly introduced yet," smiled the woman.

"Oh, my God," moaned Meredith. "The psychiatrist, right? Does everyone thinks now that I need a psychiatrist? Having thrown up in front of the whole family… Or do you want to test that new analysis technique?"

"That wasn't the whole family; trust me," smiled Kathleen. "And you know I was joking on the phone, right?"

"I've brought you some ginger ale for your nausea," she put the can on the nightstand and sat down on the chair close to bed.

"Thanks," sighed Meredith gratefully. "How is Bessie? I hate to leave her this scared."

"We've managed to divert her attention, we brought some presents for our unknown niece. Though, she remains a bit suspicious towards Nancy."

"Good," muttered Meredith vindictively. "Uhm, sorry…"

"Don't worry," calmed her Kathleen. "Nancy's spite is the rite of passage. She's the oldest of us so she feels entitled to exert influence on our life. Every one of our boyfriends or husbands had to go through that. Even Derbear was more laid back."

"Great," groaned Meredith.

"You have nothing to worry about," reassured her Kathleen. "You stood up to her, she won't bite anymore."

"Are you sure you're a psychiatrist?" asked Meredith reaching for her ginger ale. "Because you talk normal."

"Thanks," laughed Derek's sister.

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Though Kathleen said Nancy wasn't going to bite anymore, Meredith felt she had to make sure of it personally, so when the next day the oldest Shepherd sister went to kitchen to carry off empty glasses, she decided it was the best moment to tackle her. She wasn't going to take her venomous comments attacking her family, her precious children, lying down.

"So, listen, Nancy," started Meredith making the sister McBitchy turn to her with a curious expression. "I love my family, more than anything. I love Derek, I love my children. That's why I'm telling you this. Not because I'm a mean person that always pays back when she's treated like crap but because I'm not going to let you ruin my family. So don't you dare make snide remarks about my children or compare me to Addison… or give Derek any advice because the last time you did he went camping to find some freaking space," Meredith paused briefly to draw some air.

"I'm not going to do any of these," Nancy smiled gently.

Meredith looked at her warily.

"I'm not," repeated Nancy, folding her arms against her chest. "In fact, I was going to apologize to you."

"Apologize to me?" Meredith squinted her eyes.

"I also love Derek; I want the best for him, even if you don't exactly believe it," admitted Nancy. "He didn't have it easy. He was very close to Dad, closer than any of us, girls. His death also hit him harder than any of us. I thought he was going to build a real home he always wanted with Addison. I thought she was perfect for him but… I guess I was wrong. I was also wrong about you and your commitment to my brother. I thought you were a middle-age crisis. I was wrong. He's more happy with you on an ordinary day than he was with Addison on his wedding."

"Nice of you to say so," Meredith's voice softened. "But I don't wish to be compared to Addison in any way, even if it's to my advantage."

"You won't be," promised Nancy. "There won't be any more attacks on my part. We're family now and I always protect family." She gave her a small smile and went back to the impossibly crowded living room.

Meredith soon followed in her tracks even though their house seemed to transform into an inferno. It was hard to believe how the building contained as much as forty noisy running people without a fatal accident. She stopped at the door just as Mark shouted over the heads of the guests, "Who wants to hear the whole and uncensored story of our hosts' first meeting?"

Derek gave her a hopeless pleading look across the room. Meredith burst out laughing but her giggle drowned in the general hilarity. She passed a hand over her belly; she wanted to be nowhere else.

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A/N That was only the first part of the epilogue. I don't know if there will be one or two more as I'm still working on it.

Humbly asking you for comments,

Em :)