So here we are...I have to admit, I am a little disappointed in how few reviews were posted about the arrival of McBaby. I thought after all this time, it would have generated more excitement, however, I do thank those of you kind enough to review. Your thoughts mean so much to me. I had planned to maybe add a few more chapters, but interest seems to have died out in the story, so this is the end. I do hope you have enjoyed the journey these two have taken from one night stand to committed, loving partners.
Chapter 31- Life is Sweet
Two months later...
Meredith woke up from a mid-afternoon nap, disoriented for a moment. She glanced around, finding Derek sitting in the rocking chair beside the window, holding Gabriella against his chest. His eyes were fixed on the baby's, and he was talking quietly to her. Meredith strained to hear him without giving away that she was awake, not wanting to disrupt the sweet moment.
Dressed in his faded jeans, with a soft cotton shirt that had seen better days, he was far removed from the lawyerly image he usually projected. Gabriella was warmly snuggled in a pink blanket, her dark hair echoing Derek's curls and contrasting against his white shirt. Meredith was overcome with a surge of feelings so strong, she felt tears come to her eyes. Ever since she had come home with the baby, he had been there for her, throwing himself into the baby duties with an alacrity that continued to surprise her.
"You can be anything you want, you know that..." Derek murmured, inhaling the sweet baby scent of powder and milk. "Your mommy will be a good role model for you...and even if you don't want to be a doctor, that's okay too..." He regarded the wide blue-grey eyes of his daughter, who seemed to be listening intently to every word. "You can even be a lawyer..." He kissed the top of her head, and she gurgled softly as if agreeing with him. "But maybe we won't tell mommy that just yet..."
For another few minutes he rocked slowly, stroking her back until he felt her falling asleep, relaxing in against him. Then he felt Meredith's eyes on him, and he looked towards the bed. "You're awake..."
She nodded. "I didn't want to intrude on your bonding moment...you looked very peaceful."
"I had no idea how special it would be," he admitted. "This changes everything all over again. Nothing is more important than you and Gabriella. I don't want to lose sight of that."
Meredith sat up, and hugged her knees. "You won't, Derek. No matter what you were like before we got together...you've changed, honey. Or maybe it was always there, just waiting for the right moment..."
"The right woman..." he corrected her, with a grin. "You keep me in line, and I want to be a better man for you, and for our little girl."
"You're doing a fine job," she smiled happily. "And you can keep doing that fine job of looking after Gabi while I have a shower..." She slipped out of bed, pulling her robe around her quickly.
"Mer, you look good...don't hide..."
"I'm feeling a little blah yet...I want to lose this weight..."
"Honey, just come here for a minute..." He eased Gabriella into the crook of his arm, and she yawned but kept her eyes closed. Meredith joined him, touching the soft cap of hair on the baby's head. He took her other hand, twining his fingers with hers, and tugging her down to him. His mouth found hers, kissing her with a sweet intensity that she couldn't resist. Familiar desire bubbled between them, making her knees go weak and she nearly landed in his lap.
"God, Derek..." she sighed, as he let go of her hand and caressed her breast that fell within his grasp. The robe slid down her shoulders, and she shivered in the cool air.
"You look beautiful, and I love you..." he grinned. "Go have a shower, I'll be here when you get out and we can have a nice leisurely dinner."
"After I feed her."
"Of course, and I love to watch you..."
"Just jealous, aren't you?" she laughed softly.
"It does give me ideas..."
"You're hopeless..." Meredith backed away slowly, letting go of his fingers. "Be right back..."
"Just you and me, kid…" Derek stood up and walked around the bedroom, humming softly, listening to the sound of the shower running. It turned his thoughts to all the times they had made love there, and he could just imagine the sight of her body under the streaming water. With the soap cascading around her nipples, her breasts full and sensitive…his own body clenched, and he groaned softly. "Let's go wait in the kitchen…" he muttered, removing himself from temptation.
The package that arrived for Meredith was bulky and rattled suspiciously. Their new housekeeper had set it on the kitchen table for Meredith, before leaving for the evening. "Derek?" she called out, holding Gabriella in one arm. "Did you see this?"
"What?" he replied, joining her at the table.
"This."
"Since I just got home, no, honey..." he grinned, kissing her cheek. "How's my girls?"
"We're fine, aren't we?" Gabriella waved one little fist in the air happily, as Derek reached to take her in his arms so that Meredith could investigate the parcel.
"Yes, I can see that. And you both look very pretty..." Derek kissed the top of Gabriella's head, and smoothing the back of her pink sleeper.
Meredith shook the package again, looking at the postmark. "Oh, must be from Thatcher." She tucked her hair behind one ear, musing over this. They had sent him one of the birth announcement cards, even though Derek thought he should be told in person. Meredith still wasn't sure how up and close and personal she wanted to be with her estranged father. They had agreed to disagree on this point.
"Well...open it and see what it is." Derek expertly rocked the baby against him, unmindful of the little bit of drool she was inevitably leaving on his shirt.
She smirked a little. "All right...just hold on..." She pulled the brown wrapping paper away, and opened the box. There was a little note resting on top of the contents, and she read it for Derek.
Meredith...I thought you might like to have some of the mementos and pictures of you that I had kept over the years. You might want to share them with Gabriella when she's older. I also included a rattle that belonged to you...somehow it was packed in my belongings, and I didn't have the heart to return it to Ellis. Or maybe she meant for me to have it...either way, it's yours again.
Thank you for the picture of Gabriella...she looks beautiful. All the best to you and Derek...
"Oh I had no idea..." she whispered, touching the little packet of pictures. "After all this time..."
Derek touched her cheek gently. "That was thoughtful of him. I'm sure it meant a lot to him over the years..."
"I suppose it did, more so than I was ever led to believe." She pulled out a few of the pictures, smiling a little at the black and white images. There were several of Ellis in her younger years, looking fresh and vibrant. Then several of baby Meredith, laying on blankets, smiling adorably.
"Aw...weren't you the little show off?" Derek teased her.
"Funny..." Meredith took the little rattle, turning it over carefully. "Not sure if this is good for Gabi yet, but it was sweet of him to send it. Maybe I'll call him..."
"I'm sure he'd like that," Derek agreed.
"Still doesn't mean I have to accept everything he did..." Meredith reminded him. "But maybe he's not the bad person I always thought he was..." She tapped him on the chest lightly.
"Things change, honey." Derek had to smile at her. "I'm glad you were able to have some closure on your relationship, after all this time."
Then Gabriella started to whimper, interrupting their conversation.
"Give her to me..." Meredith held her hands out. "She's hungry..."
"You can tell from one little cry?"
"Of course, Derek...that's her 'feed me' cry..."
"I should have realized."
"Mama knows best, after all," she reminded him, heading for the baby's room. "You can come and keep me company, you know..."
"I wouldn't miss that opportunity..."
The next day, Meredith peeked into Derek's office, and he smiled happily to see her there. He held up his hand, finishing his phone conversation, as she came towards him. With the baby in one arm, diaper bag across the other, she was doing a balancing act that she seemed to have taken to quite well.
"Hey, this is a nice surprise," he observed, jumping up to meet her. He kissed her and reached to take Gabriella from her.
"We just came from Mommy and Baby Yoga..." she smiled. "Thought you might be able to go for lunch...?"
"Where is that precious baby?" Addison called out from the doorway. "So nice to see you, Meredith..." She leaned in to kiss the baby's cheek. "And this little one just gets prettier every day! What a sweetheart! But of course she would, with you two as her parents...she's gonna break hearts when she gets older!"
"Don't even go there..." Meredith sighed. "Derek will be sure to keep her under lock and key as it is."
"Damn right..."
Addison exchanged a knowing look with Meredith. "Good luck with that..." she laughed, before disappearing out the door.
"So can you get away for lunch?" Meredith looked back to Derek.
He shook his head in disappointment. "No, unfortunately, I can't...can I make it up to you tonight?"
"You better..." She moved closer, straightening his tie. "I'll even cook."
"Hmm..." Derek pulled her against him, kissing her temple. "Is there a promise of anything else?"
"Maybe...if you behave..."
"Meredith, I'm always behaved, but I think it's time we misbehave a little..." he smirked. "What d'you think?"
She felt a little shiver along her spine, reacting to the sensual promise in his tone. Between everything that had to be done, and making sure Gabriella was fed, bathed and sleeping, she often fell asleep in Derek's arms before any kind of amorous overture. "I think we should make a date for that..."
His eyebrows raised. "I like that...and I'm looking forward to it." He kissed her a little harder, tongue dancing with hers until she was breathless. Gabriella made a squawk of protest being crushed between them, and Meredith backed away slowly.
"I guess I should go then...I'll be waiting for you later...just keep that in mind, honey," she smiled.
"Oh I will. I'm tempted to rearrange my whole schedule this afternoon just to get home sooner," he murmured, his eyes full of wicked heat. "Just keep in mind it's been awhile, and I'm really, really going to take my time with you tonight...give you the most amazing orgasm..."
"Oh..." Meredith flushed, desire whipping through her veins. "This is going to be a long afternoon..."
"Too long," he agreed, suddenly aching more for her, thinking of the time he had made love to Meredith here in his office. His eyes flicked to the desk in remembrance, and she caught his inference.
"You're not getting that right now, honey..." she laughed. "Much as I might like to, our little girl here is not going to make that possible."
"You're right...patience..."
Derek walked into the house at the end of the day, after having been held up with a last minute hysterical call from one of his clients. His wife had kicked him out, and tossed out all of his belongings into a dumpster; the guy was ready to have a meltdown. Derek had eased his ranting tirade, assuring him things would work out, but it took longer than he'd anticipated.
"Meredith?" he called out, dropping his briefcase at the front hall. Loosening his tie, he headed for the lights of the kitchen. Along the way, he spotted the dining room table set with candles and flowers, and he was hoping she wasn't upset about his delayed arrival. "I'm sorry...things got a little nuts..."
She met him at the kitchen entrance, apron around her slim hips, her hair up in a soft knot that looked just tousled enough to be sexy. "You're lucky I love you..." she smiled at him. "And I just settled Gabi anyway...she was a little fussy. Must've known her parents wanted to misbehave."
"Misbehave, hmm?" He raised one eyebrow, hooking his arm around her waist. His eyes were dark and alive with heat as she looked up at him.
"Oh yes...misbehaving is definitely on the menu for this evening." Her body tingled with sudden heat of her own, as they stared at each other.
"Like before we were married and respectable?" His voice continued to tantalize her, as he kissed her lips, her throat, the sensitive curve of her breasts in the low cut halter dress she was wearing. "You still make me crazy…"
Meredith moaned softly, and he picked her up and set her on the counter, spreading her legs and moving between them. Her hair spilled down her back, as she braced her arms behind her. "This is naughty…" she whispered, caught up in his passion, as he worked the fastening of the top, freeing her breasts into his hands. His tongue circled the suddenly hard nipples, sucking and teasing, until she thought she would scream.
"But it's fun…" he teased her, tugging the short skirt higher up her thighs. His fingers brushed against the edge of her panties, and she quivered. Then just inside the lace edge, searching for her clit. "And you're wet…so wet…"
"Derek..." she moaned, caught off guard by how quickly he was ravishing her. "This isn't exactly...oh god...what I planned..."
"Think of this as the appetizer..." he murmured, persuasively.
"Yes…oh…"
His breath was warm on her then, as he kissed the inside of her thighs, licking the tiny scrap of material that covered her pussy, adding to the wetness that seeped into them. "And you taste so good…" His fingers and his tongue combined to take her into bliss, as she bucked against him.
She collapsed back against the counter, laughing and moaning, overcome with the sensation of pleasure that coursed through her. Derek let her go slowly, kissing her abdomen, returning to lean over her, nuzzling her breasts again. "More?" he asked softly, helping her sit up again. Her hands went to his belt, undoing it with practiced fingers, sliding inside as he kissed her, tongues searching as she circled his cock that demanded attention.
"Definitely more…" she murmured, grasping him harder, feeling him shudder. The pants slid down his hips as she slid down to the floor in front of him, looking up at him. "Oh..so much more…" she breathed lightly on him, stroking the length of him with her fingers, as her tongue went around the engorged head, tasting him, teasing him, as he braced his arms on the counter. Taking him in deeper, driving him to the edge of pleasure until he shook from head to toe with wanting to come.
"Damn, Mer…I can't wait any longer…" he growled urgently, pulling her up, overcome with the need to be inside of her, to feel her pulsing heat around him. It had been far too long, and he wanted her too damn much. He claimed her mouth again, his cum mixed with her taste on his tongue, musky and arousing. "Now...baby…" And she nodded, but turned around slowly, leaning to brace herself against the counter, giving herself up to him.
"I've missed this, oh god..." she urged him, her hair falling in her face. "Like this…it feels so naughty, so bad…"
"Yes…it does…" he agreed, taking hold of her small body, and fitting himself against her, both of them moaning out loud as he pushed into her tight pussy. "You can be bad for me anytime, honey…" he muttered, intent on taking them both into orbit, sliding in and out faster, as she grabbed for something to hang onto.
For a moment, he stopped, and she whimpered in frustration. "Don't move," he whispered, "I'm lost if you move, Mer…" Unconsciously, her pelvic muscles contracted around him, and he groaned. "Tease…you're in trouble now…" he warned her.
"Yes…I know, I want you…." Her soft moans and cries urged him on, as she tightened around him, his cock thrusting deeper, his hands gripping her hips tightly. Feeling his pace increase as he let himself go, holding her carefully to keep her from falling.
Derek held her tightly, his heart pounding, as the orgasm wrenched his body. Meredith let go of the counter, and they eased down to the floor together, where she fell back into his arms. Laughing, sweating, disheveled, she clung to him, capturing his mouth, as they tried to regain sanity. "Oh, god, Derek…that was amazing…"
"Very…" he groaned playfully, unwilling to move for the moment, kissing her tenderly. "You're going to be the death of me, woman."
Meredith laughed softly, kissing him back. "Hmmm, and you've made a mess of my hair and my outfit that I picked to seduce you..."
"I like it when you look like this…" he teased her.
She shook her head at him. "You're incorrigible..."
"I'm glad I haven't lost my bad boy touch altogether."
"Trust me, honey...you will never lose that as far as I'm concerned," she assured him, twisting in his embrace to face him. "But only with me...forever..."
"I definitely concur with that," he murmured, kissing her, inhaling her heat, her fragrant aroused scent, crushing her lips harder than he intended. He moaned into her mouth, kissing her harder, holding onto her tightly. Heat rippled over and over, all consuming, leaving them weak and breathless.
"Meredith..." Derek breathed into her ear, clutching her against him. "Meredith… my sweet Meredith…how I love you…"
"I love you so much...Derek..."
As if captured by a mystic abstraction, their kisses, licks and nibbles found every available piece of skin as they were loathe to break the moment. It wasn't the evening Meredith had planned, but maybe it was just as good to have the unexpected again.
"Dinner...?" he asked finally, glancing towards the dining room.
"Um..." She started to say something else, but the soft little wail from the baby monitor made them both scramble to their feet. "Let's hold that thought..." she murmured, pulling her clothes together.
"Always," he replied, watching her hurry off to check on Gabriella. He grinned slowly, leaning against the counter, feeling satisfied and happy. Whistling softly, he followed her upstairs, eager to see their daughter, and spend the rest of the evening with his two favourite girls. Life couldn't get any better...
THE END
An epilogue may be possible if interest warrants... :o)