Chapter 5 – You're back

"How long is it going to last?"

In the madness of packing everything, so he could make it in time to the airport, Mark was stressing Derek with all kind of questions; all of them referring to Meredith and Daniel.

Derek stopped briefly to give his friend a cold look. "What are you implying?"

"What I know," he answered, shrugging his shoulder to point what was obvious to him.

Derek shook his head, disapproving. "You don't know anything, from what I see."

"I am not going to play doctor with you because you have a difficult psychic," he mumbled, standing up from the bed to leave.

Derek chose not to bother with his presence. Looking through his closet, he realized he was worse than a woman; he had no idea what to pack and how much; what should stay and what should go to Seattle for Christmas.

"What's this?" something caught Mark's attention right when he was about to leave the room. There was a rectangular box in a chair. He walked up to that place and took the box out of the bag. "You bought this for your kid? What is it?"

"What does it look like?" Derek asked rhetorically, rolling his eyes.

"A train?!" he laughed. "Does it have hills and mountains like they show on the cover?" he asked and walked back to the bed. He put the box on the bed and was about to open it when Derek slapped his hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to see how it looks like." He pushed Derek's hand away, insisting on seeing what came with the train in the package.

"Are you serious?" Derek snapped at him and grabbed the box, keeping it out of Mark's reach.

"Oh come on!" he protested. "It's not like he will know it was used before."

"Don't underestimate him," Derek glared and put the box aside. "Weren't you leaving?"

Mark stood there in the middle of the room, staring dumbfounded at Derek. "Are you seriously not going to let me play with the train?"

Derek stopped and turned to Mark, just as dumbfounded as Mark was. "Were you seriously going to play with other kid's toy?"

Mark groaned, rolling his eyes. "You used to be more fun before you were a dad." He didn't look like he was going to leave any time soon as he sat back down on the bed. "Is Addison going with you?" he asked. "I didn't hear her saying anything about Seattle."

"She's not coming," Derek answered. He stood up and started looking around for the things to pack. "This is going to be an awesome Christmas," he was all smiles as he said that.

"You're excited," Mark approved.

Derek nodded at him, excited indeed. "I could need some help with the packing," he reminded him.

Mark furrowed his brows. "Why? How long are you planning on staying there?"

"A couple of days. I will be back before New Year," he answered. "Do you think he will like it?" he asked, looking at the present for Daniel.

"I think he will," Mark answered. "Did you get anything for Meredith?"

"Of course!" Derek looked up, grinning. "I need to impress them in order to be welcome there."

"By the grin on your face and the fact that Daniel and Meredith are all you talk about, I'd say you're welcome there, already," Mark replied knowingly. "I am leaving then," he said, getting up from the bed. "I don't need to see your underwear," he mumbled while picking up his jacket.

Derek heard him heading to the door and there talking to someone. It seemed to be someone he knew and indeed, Derek recognized Addison's voice. He let out a sigh; they hadn't talked much lately and the last time they talked, they had made plans for the day after Christmas.

"Hey," she walked into his room, smiling.

Derek glanced at her with a weary smile.

She stood by the door, uncomfortably looking at all the clothes. "You're packing a lot," she noticed.

"No," he shook his head. "I am just picking up a few clothes."

"Do you need a special wardrobe?" she asked laughed, trying to sound like she was joking.

"No," he replied. He looked the other way and mumbled, "But I need clothes for a few days."

"A few days? When are you coming back? Are you coming back before New Year?" she burst.

"Calm down!" he snapped back. "I am coming back. I need to spend a few days with my son." Derek noticed her hand bag just then. "Are you going somewhere?"

She looked down at her bag and muttered, embarrassed, "I could come with you and be together for Christmas. You, me and Daniel."

Derek stared at her, surprised. By the look on her face, he knew she was serious and the outburst from earlier had been an accident. "He has a mother," was all he could say. He was impressed that she was willing to want to know Daniel better, but he wasn't sure he was ready for that to happen.

"But he also has a father. And soon a step-mother, too" she replied.

"Addison," he said softly.

"Derek," she looked disappointed.

"It's just not the right time," he said.

"We can spend Christmas with Meredith, too. We don't have to have Daniel for ourselves."

Derek didn't know how to convince her. "Let me know him first," he asked.

Addison was visibly disappointed. "It would have been easier if…"

"Addison, don't," he didn't let her finish. "You can't come."

"You're doing it the wrong way," she reproached. "Ok. So. Will you be back by Monday for skiing?"

"I don't know," he muttered.

She sighed loudly, letting part of her irritation out. She knew it wasn't right to start another scene with Derek, right now.

"Don't be mad," he asked softly.

"Derek, we barely spend time alone because of the work; now that we have a little time off, we could spend it together."

"We will have time for that. Right now Daniel is my first priority. He doesn't even call me daddy. I am Derek to him!"

"I know! I get that! It's just…" she sighed, shaking her head.

"It's hard, I know. But try to understand my situation."

"I do understand you," she mumbled. She put the bag on the bed and unzipped it. She took out a wrapped present. "Give this to Daniel."

Derek looked at her and felt guilty. He took the present, put it aside and pulled Addison into his arms. "I might not be back on Monday, but I will be back and then we can spend some time alone."

She nodded sadly. "I will miss you." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Derek just smiled kindly and nodded; he couldn't not say that back because he knew he wouldn't have time to miss her back. He stroked her cheek instead, as sign of affection and slowly stepped back.

"Call me when you get there. Maybe I will even talk to Daniel a little bit."

"That sounds like a good idea," he agreed.

She smiled and kissed him. "Merry Christmas, Derek."

"Merry Christmas, Addie." He smiled, watching her leaving, with relief.

---

She let out a sigh and climbed off the chair before doing a wrong move and fall over the Christmas tree. She put the chair aside and looked at the tree, disarmed. Why did Damon have to buy such a high tree? Now she felt how much she needed a man's hand in the house.

Meredith looked over to the window, where her little man was looking out the window, knelt in a chair. He was pouted, and for a good reason. She couldn't count on his help right now.

She heard him gasping and saw him pulling back from the window. "Mommy!" he shouted, pointing to the window.

"I think he's here!"

"Who?"

"Santa."

"What?" she laughed and walked up to the window. There was indeed a car parked outside on their driveway, but because of the darkness she couldn't see the man's face. "Danny, Santa rides with the sleigh. He doesn't drive cars."

The doorbell rang. "Let's see who is visiting." She went to the door, with Daniel closely following her.

"Derek!" she couldn't hide her surprise as she swung the door open.

"Hey," he chuckled.

"You're back."

"Of course I am back," he smiled, furrowing his brows. "I told you I would come."

"Yeah."

Derek smiled and nodded understandingly.

"Am I still invited?"

"Of course," she stepped away from the door to let him in.

"Hey, Danny," Derek crouched down to receive a welcoming hug from his son.

Daniel, instead, took a step back and ran away, whimpering.

"What's wrong?" Derek asked Meredith, worried that Daniel might not recognize him.

Meredith chuckled and nodded reassuringly. "I real drama."

Derek was less worried as Meredith was showing a good mood and not worried about Daniel's reaction, but he was still confused.

"He broke one of your cars," she told him. "And he knows what a bad thing he did and he feels guilty. He's afraid you might not like anymore."

"That's silly," Derek laughed. He took his coat off and looked around for a place to put it.

"Give it to me," Meredith offered.

"Thanks. I'd better go talk to him."

"Ok," she smiled.

Upstairs, Derek didn't find Daniel in his room, right way. He heard though a sound coming from there, so he guessed that he was hiding.

"Danny?" Derek called and a sound came out from under the bed. Derek laughed and knelt beside the bed to look under. Daniel was hiding in there. "What are you doing there?" he asked, using a soft voice not to scare the boy.

Daniel looked away.

"Your mom told me what happened. I am not mad. Can you come out now and show me the car. I can help you fix it."

Daniel turned his head around to look at him. Derek was sounding convincing.

"Come," Derek encouraged him and got off the floor, waiting for him to come out.

Daniel lingered a moment longer before he crawled out.

"Where's the car?"

Daniel glanced at him and went to his nightstand. He opened a drawer and took a racing car out, bringing it to Derek then.

Derek took the car and put it on the bed, then he picked Daniel into his arms. "First of all, it's wrong to hide when you do something bad."

Daniel was looking at him, waiting for the second of all.

"Second of all," Derek smiled as if he knew what he was waiting, "I am not mad. We'll see if we can fix it, ok?"

Daniel nodded. "Derek," he spoke quietly. "I am sorry."

Derek smiled and kissed him. "You're forgiven. Next time you come to me and tell me, ok? Or call me if I am not here."

"Ok," Daniel agreed.

"Ok," he chuckled. He had a wonderful son. They sat down on the bed and Derek took the car to look better at him. The hood was crumpled and broken, probably when Daniel tried to fix it himself. He had to admit that he didn't know what to do with it.

"How did this happen?"

"Tuck hit me with a tuck."

"You mean truck?"

Daniel nodded.

"You had an accident, then."

"Uh-huh," he nodded again.

"Were you hurt?"

"Uh-huh," Daniel answered with another nod.

"Really?"

Daniel nodded firmly.

"Where did he hurt you?"

Daniel showed him his hand. There was a sign of a scratch, but it was healing nicely, so it couldn't have been that bad.

"Did mommy help you get well?"

"Yes," he answered. "She's a doctor."

"I am doctor, too."

"I know," he answered, smiling proudly. He leaned forward to look at the car in Derek's hand. It seemed that being forgiven now, he didn't care about the car anymore. "Mommy made the tree. Do you want to see it?" he asked excitedly.

"I'd love to," Derek chuckled.

They got off the floor and Daniel raised his hand to hold Derek's.

"Do you want me to carry you on my shoulders?" Derek asked him, making Daniel gasp with excitement. He nodded and lifted both arms. Derek easily picked him and placed him on his shoulders. "Are you comfortable there?"

"Yes," the boy giggled, thrilled with the height he was seeing things from, now.

Derek laughed. Things seemed to go smoothly with Daniel and he was taking small, but safe, steps into his son's life. For the first time he played his part as Daniel's father, explaining him what was wrong and what was right.

They found Meredith sitting in the couch, looking at the Christmas tree.

"Mommy!" Daniel squealed, waving at his mommy.

"You're tall," Meredith laughed, standing up.

Daniel giggled. He leaned to Derek's ear and asked to be put down.

"Wait," Meredith stopped him and quickly took the decoration off the table. "Help me put this star on the top of the tree."

Derek gave it to Daniel and carried him to the Christmas tree, but not having enough dexterity, Derek had to put him down. He took the star back and climbed on the chair, placing it in the top.

"Let's light it now," he suggested.

Meredith went to turn the lights off while Derek plugged it in.

"Pretty!" Daniel exclaimed, awed by the colorful dance of the lights. He giggled and looked for his mother to run to her and nestle into her arms.

Derek walked up beside them and they stayed together watching the lights. There wasn't anything spectacular with the lights, but it was the magic of the moment that kept them there, just staring.

Daniel enjoyed the magic moment of silence, but he was getting bored. He started to fuss in Meredith's arms, so she had to put him down.

"I was going to make some cookies," she told Derek.

"Ooh. Yummy!"

"Don't get too excited. I started practicing yesterday," she said.

"I can help you," he offered.

Meredith was about to refuse and ask him to spend a little time with Daniel, but the boy wanted to join in. "I can help!" he offered, too.

"I am not going to bake cookies for the whole neighborhood," Meredith laughed.

"If he offered, you have to encourage him," Derek told her.

Meredith smiled knowingly. "You two are going to clean the kitchen after we're done."

"No problem," Derek agreed.

Meredith snickered as she walked ahead, carrying Daniel. "You don't know what you're getting into."

And she was right, because Daniel had fun mixing the ingredients, but he knew it was funnier to play with the flour; he also had fun modeling the cookies, but it was funnier to smudge his hands with dough and eat it.

In the end, besides the mess, everything smelled delicious. Meredith and Derek looked at each other with a knowing smile; Daniel was too little to understand the feeling, but they felt it like Christmas.

Derek stood behind, cleaning the kitchen, while Meredith took Daniel upstairs to prepare him for sleep. He hurried a little so he wouldn't miss the bedtime story Meredith had promised to read to Daniel and he got to his door, Derek heard them talking quietly. He knew that was a private thing, but he couldn't help it and stayed to listen.

"Why?" he heard Daniel asking his mother.

"I told you, because he's your daddy now," she answered.

Derek leaned against the wall, listening forward.

"You have to call him 'daddy' or 'dad' instead of Derek."

"But why?" the boy sounded very confused.

There was a short pause in Meredith's answer. "Because that's how all the children call their parents; mommy and daddy. I am sure he will be very happy to hear you call him like this. Ok?"

"Ok, mommy."

Then Derek heard giggles coming from both of them. He gave them a few more moments alone before he entered, meanwhile he thought about Meredith's gesture. It seemed like she had trust in his him, after all.

"Are you ready for the story?" Derek asked them as he entered the room.

Daniel was standing in the middle of the bed, hung on Meredith's neck, when Derek appeared. He stepped back from Meredith and smiled at his father.

"I am," he answered, giggling. "Come," he called Derek, motioning to follow him in the bed.

"And where do I sit?" Meredith pretended to pout.

Daniel patted the place beside his other side.

"What are we reading?" asked Derek.

"Pinocchio," Meredith answered.

"He has big nose," Daniel needed to explain.

"Does he?" Derek looked surprised. "Why?"

"Because he was bad and lied," the boy answered. "Read, mommy," he asked Meredith. "You, listen. Ok?" he also told Derek.

"Ok," Derek chuckled.

"You might have something to learn," Meredith joked.

Daniel was tired. Usually he was looking at the pictures while Meredith read, but this time, he preferred to stay in bed and just listen, and he was asleep before Meredith turned the second page. The evening also ended for Meredith and Derek.

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N/A: I wanted to write about their Christmas morning in this chapter, but I decided it was better to make a different chapter for that one. I hope you're enjoying the story, so far.