AN: This weekend, much like the last two weeks, was boiling hot, there were problems with electricity as I was working on the chapter, hence the delay. Thanks, like usual, for the likes, favorites and reviews. I wish I could answer to you all, but you need to log in for that! :) I hope you're still enjoying this, here is chapter 8, Derek is finally going home.

Home

The ride home felt familiar, yet a little unexpected. Derek had clear memories about the land where he had built their dream house, he had already lived on that same piece of land in the trailer for quite a long time after all. Meredith had showed him pictures and she had even located the blueprints he had stored away in his office and brought them to the hospital. He couldn't say that he had gotten back any new memories by looking at them, but he did get a homey, peaceful feeling. He also remembered trying to get some work down with Mark, Owen and the rest of the guys on the porch, before finding out it wasn't even and having the workers build it back from scratch. Meredith glanced at him from the driver's side and noticed that he looked tense "there is nothing to be nervous about... I know you don't remember now, but the house you built is perfect for our family. Maybe it's a little too big, which is why we found a cleaner to come help us, but we love it, the kids adore all the space they have" she reminded him softly, snapping him from his reverie.

He turned sharply, looking at her and smiled "I know that, Mere and I hope that being finally home will help me regain the memories I've lost"

"That's the general idea" she agreed.

"But what if it doesn't?" he questioned quietly.

"If it doesn't, it just means that I will have to tell you all about the memories you lost and we'll work hard on making new ones, better ones" her tone was soft, but firm as well "it will be all right" she added, squeezing his left hand.

"I hope so" he murmured.

"I know so" she contradicted him.

"Thank you" he closed his fingers around her hand and squeezed back.

"Don't even mention it" she grinned "we did promise to take care of each other forever..."

His eyes sparkled at the mention of their wedding vows, dating back to six years before "yeah, we did promise that" he was quick to agree "and I'm sorry to have broken one of our other promises by going to DC. We did say no running. I shouldn't have done that"

"You didn't exactly run away, you went there to work on an amazing project, a research that could improve your career once again... I was the one who insisted on making you go"

"You were?" his tone was a little surprised.

"Well, yeah..." she trailed off as they stopped at a red light "you were obviously interested in going to DC, but you wanted me and the kids to come with you and I did not want to leave Seattle..." she paused, looking in his blue eyes "so in the end, afraid that you were going to resent me, I pushed you to go to DC" she explained.

He let her words sink in and took her hand into his once again "it's okay, I'm just glad to be back here" he reassured her "and we're starting fresh" he added for good measure.

"I'm really glad too" she confirmed, stopping the car in front of their garage, she pressed the open button on the remote control and parked "ready to get inside?" she asked, grinning brightly.

"Definitely" he grinned back, his eyes were back to the light blue shade he always sported when he was happy.

"The kids have been bouncing off the walls with excitement ever since I told them you were coming home today" she reminded him "they're thrilled to have you back"

"Not as thrilled as I am" he reassured her as she went around the car to hand him the crutches.

They walked slowly towards the garage door who lead to the mud room, right next to the pantry and the kitchen.

"We're home!" he exclaimed as they entered and, sure enough, two pairs of excited feet scrambled from the playroom and started running towards them.

"Daddy!" they both yelled excitedly as they run.

"Finally!" Zola giggled out of breath as they reached their parents.

"Remember to be careful guys, daddy is in crutches" Meredith reminded them softly as both kids stopped abruptly in front of them.

"Oopsie" Bailey giggled as well as he reached out to touch his dad's good leg.

"The kids run way to fast or me" Carolyn was smiling brightly as she caught up with the four of them "welcome home son" she added as she kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks Ma, it's good to be home" he sighed contently.

"You should sit down, Derek" Meredith looked worriedly at him.

"Maybe I should" he agreed, feeling already a little tired.

"I'll come with ya, daddy!" Zola was quick to follow him to the couch, Bailey in tow.

"What do you guys want to do?" he asked them as soon as he settled down on the sofa, with his left leg propped up on the coffee table, a pillow underneath it, to give him some comfort.

"Can you wead us a stowy daddy?" Zola was quick to ask him as she snuggled on his right side, Bailey positioned himself on his left.

"I sure can!" he agreed grinning broadly at both kids, feeling incredibly fortunate to be able to hold them close "what would you guys like to read?" he asked after giving the two of them a kiss on their foreheads.

" 'vetin wabbit" it was Bailey who answered first, giving his dad the most amazing charm smile, who mirrored his own.

"Oh yeah, I love it!" Zola agreed right away "Let me go get it!" she added sprinting towards Bailey and hers bookcase in the playroom.

"Can you find it by yourself honey?" Meredith asked her daughter before she disappeared.

"Yah-huh, I put it back there the other day after we read it with Nana" she answered matter-of-factly.

"Ok lovebug" she grinned at the eagerness in her voice and sat down on the armchair opposite the sofa looking at her husband, son and mother-in-law.

"She's so full of life" Carolyn mused out loud.

"She, she reminds us of the Energizer Bunny... as soon as you think she's beat, she starts right back again!" Meredith smiled at the older woman.

"She reminds me of someone else..." she commented pointing vaguely at Derek and laughing lightly.

"I can see him being a handful as a kid" Meredith shared a conspiratorial look with his mom "this is why both our kids are so energetic" she concluded.

"You did tell me that you were afraid we were going to have five chatty children with perfect hair and we would live in the wilderness..." he made fun of her, remembering the beginning of their love story.

"I can't believe you still remember that!" she laughed out loud.

"How could I forget?" he asked sweetly, his eyes locking with hers, nobody else mattered.

Her heart skipped several beats as she looked at his handsome face "we do live in the wilderness" she murmured after a little while, her green eyes sparkling mischievously.

"That we do..." he agreed, his eyes were now dark blue and smoldering "do you want to start working on the five chatty children as well?" he wiggled his eyebrows seductively.

"How about we work on getting you back to your healthy self and then, maybe, we worry about other chatty children?" she suggested.

"All right... I will keep this in mind" he promised, as she closed the distance between them, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

"I'm back!" Zola's exclamation reminded them they were not alone. The foursome turned to look at the overly excited four-year-old, who was holding not one, but two books in her hands.

"Daddy, will you wead us two?" she asked batting her eyelashes, giving him one of her 1000 watts smiles, showing him "The velvetin rabbit" and "Guess how much I love you"

"I sure will" he agreed right away, Meredith knew he was totally smitten with her, but how could she blame him? Their daughter was definitely daddy's little girl and she had the neurosurgeon wrapped around her finger.

The family spent a quiet day together, simply enjoying each other's company; Derek couldn't have asked for anything better. By the time they finished dinner the kids were exhausted, since they hadn't taken a nap that day. Carolyn offered to bathe them as Meredith cleaned up the kitchen and Derek went with his mom to assist her and make sure the kids behaved themselves. They were too tired to put up a fight and, twenty minutes later, both of them were in bed, sleeping soundly.

"Are you sure you don't mind me staying here with you?" Carolyn didn't want to impose and she voiced her fears as the three of them enjoyed a cup of tea.

"We're certain, Ma" Derek patted her affectionately on her arm.

"We wouldn't have invited you if we weren't sure" Meredith added.

"Okay, I'm actually really enjoying spending time with Zola and Bailey"

"We see that, Ma" Meredith and Derek shared a knowing look and she went on "this is why we want to invite you to spend the summer with us... that is if you want to, of course" she said nervously.

"Are you kidding me? I'd love to!" she exclaimed.

"Then consider yourself busy until the end of summer" his son gave her a huge smile "you'll be of great help, since I'll be still recovering" he added.

"I know you probably didn't bring enough clothes and stuff with you so I can take you shopping if you need and we can fix up your room if you think it needs some changes" Meredith was happy to hear that Carolyn wanted to stay.

"I might take you up on that, maybe we could make it a girls' day and take Zola and Amelia with us"

"That sounds like fun!"

"It's settled then..." Carolyn sipped her tea and looked at the both of them "thanks again for letting me stay here"

"Don't even mention it" Derek shrugged and gave her a one-armed hug.

When Amelia and Cristina got home they found the three of them still on the sofa, chilling and they spent the rest of the evening talking quietly and keeping an eye on Derek.

The following morning Derek got up with a huge smile on his face, he had retrieved another memory that night.

"Daddy, is Santa coming tonight?" Zola was grinning at him as she sat on the bed, dressed in one of her Christmas footsie pajamas.

"No baby, he's coming in three days" he reminded her as he handed her a sippy cup with warm milk.

"Aww, dat's vewy far away" she whined, taking the hot liquid.

"Don't be silly, it's not" she chided her smiling.

"It is so" she pouted.

"No pouting lovebug... remember that Santa is still checking out everybody... you don't want to end up on the naughty list, do you?!"

" 'corse no" she shook her head "I'm not noty" she grinned at her dad.

He kissed the tip of her nose and gave her a hug "of course you aren't, you're the best little girl in the world" he agreed.

"An' Bay?" she asked.

"What about him?"

"He noty?" she continued.

"Do you think so?"

"She shook her head once more "he's a baby" she shrugged.

"He's a pretty good little brother, what do you say?"

"Yeah..." she agreed "will Santa bring him 'psents?"

"Of course he will... he will bring presents to the both of you" he reassured her.

"Otay..."

"But, he won't bring any if you don't go to sleep" he murmured as she tickled her.

"Otay daddy, I sweep now" she shrieked.

"Sleep tight baby girl, I love you..." he kissed her on the cheek.

"I 'wuv you too"

"What has you smiling so bright first thing in the morning?" Meredith asked and he turned to look at her "I didn't know you were awake..." he countered, kissing her briefly.

"Habit I guess" she answered "so, what's going on?"

"I just remembered last Christmas... well, I remembered talking about it with Zola, three days before it actually"

"That's really awesome, Derek" she leaned into him to give him a hug.

"Yeah, I totally agree" she enveloped her kissing her forehead and sighed contently. Everything was going to be just perfect.

Hope you liked it. Sorry, it's a little shorter than usual, but it made sense to just stop here. Stay tuned for more, hopefully this weekend!