Chapter 48: Condo Hunting

This was the right address, at least she was pretty sure this was, but Dawsyn kept talking and Meredith was losing her focus. Derek's car was parked in the spot next to where she as currently parked, so this had to be the condo he wanted to show her. "Dawsyn...I need you to be quiet for a second."

"Is this it?" Dawsyn bounced in the back seat.

"Yeah, this is the condo he wants us to look at with him."

"Wow! This is nicer than Izzie's!"

"Dawsyn..." Meredith pulled the keys from the ignition as she slid the written directions into her purse.

"Are we going to live here?" Dawsyn asked, hopping out of the car.

"I don't know that yet."

"Can we please?"

"We'll talk later...leave your markers in the car." Meredith demanded.

"Fine..." Dawsyn groaned, tossing them back into the backseat before they headed up to the door.

"Do we just wait out here for him or..."

"Hi girls." Derek smiled, opening the door.

"Hey." Dawsyn giggled, trying to peak into the house.

"Hey." Meredith smiled.

"How are you both?" Derek asked, kissing Meredith quickly and patting Dawsyn on the head.

"We're good...Dawsyn just got off of school."

"Learn anything interesting today?"

"No...but we got to use the zip wire in gym class."

"That sounds like fun."

"It was." Dawsyn nodded.

"So...we're here." Meredith replied.

"You are...Are you ready?" Derek smiled.

"I want to look!" Dawsyn gasped.

"Want to see your room?"

"I have a room here?" Dawsyn smiled.

"Apparently." Meredith giggled.

"I want to look." Dawsyn smiled.

"Okay...Let's go." Derek replied, taking the two of their hands.

"I miss having my own room." Dawsyn replied, as she followed them through the condo.

"I bet your Mom does too." Derek laughed.

"You have no idea." Meredith giggled, pressing a kiss against his arm before they walked up the stairs.

"So...bedrooms first." Derek smiled as they got to the top of the stairs.

"I want to see mine first." Dawsyn bounced.

"Last door on the left."

"Come on Mom!" Dawsyn giggled, pulling Meredith's hand.

"We're coming." Derek laughed.

"Dawsyn...calm down." Meredith replied, stopping to kiss Derek quickly.

"Daws...why don't you go check it out and we'll be right there." Derek whispered.

"Okay." Dawsyn shouted, opening the door, disappearing into the bedroom.

"That was easy..." Derek smiled, wrapping his arms around Meredith's waist.

"Mmm...hello."

"Hello."

"It's been two days."

"Felt like two months."

"You told her it was her bedroom." Meredith whispered, pressing a kiss against his chest.

"It is hers...Do you want to see our room?" Derek whispered.

"Hmm...please."

"Right this way." He smiled, kissing her again before opening the door right next to them.

"And then...wow...Derek." Meredith stopped, looking at the master bedroom with a light blue paint and long window. "Derek..."

"What do you think?" He asked, standing back as she looked around the room.

"It's beautiful." Meredith whispered, looking up at the chandelier that was hanging from the ceiling. "This...I love it."

"I thought you would." Derek smiled.

"Was this your plan to get me to want to move in?" Meredith giggled.

"Maybe..."

"For the record...definitely working." Meredith whispered.

"So...you'll move in?" Derek asked, taking her hand, pulling her back to him.

"I...yeah."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Meredith breathed, a smile spreading across her face. "Besides I don't think I could ruin Dawsyn's excitement."

"All I have to do is sign the papers."

"And...I'll give you the money...I mean I'll give you some."

"You don't...Okay."

"I can't just not...I mean you're letting us live with you and..."

"Okay...It's hard for me to say but...Okay." Derek smiled.

'Why?" She frowned.

"Because I don't want you to have to pay because I know things are tight but...I'm...evolving."

"I just...I don't want you to think I'm using you or...I just worry that you'll think that."

"I definitely don't think that."

"I know." Meredith whispered.

"We still haven't even looked at the downstairs."

"Hmm..."

"The kitchen which...you probably won't be using."

"I could use it." Meredith frowned as they heard Dawsyn come down the hallway.

"Do you wanna see the downstairs before you make a decision?" Derek laughed.

"I guess so!"

"Mommy! Derek!" Dawsyn came running into their bedroom. "My new room is so nice, and I have a lot of space!"

"Do you think she likes it?"

"I think she loves it." Meredith giggled, fixing her daughter's ponytail.

"Should we head downstairs?" Derek laughed.

"Yeah." Dawsyn nodded.

"And then maybe Derek will let me use the kitchen." Meredith giggled.

"Eww no Mommy."

"One more thing I have to show you up here first." Derek said.

"Okay." Meredith breathed.

"End of the hall...there's a little balcony that looks out over a courtyard."

"Wow." Dawsyn gasped, running out of the bedroom.

"The one with the bedroom balcony wasn't available anymore." Derek sighed.

"Ohh what a shame." Meredith kissed him, before backing out of the room. "Could have been fun."

"Believe me...I know." Derek laughed, following her, and shutting the bedroom door.

"Mommy!" Dawsyn turned around waving them. 'Derek! Come look!"

"What else is down there?" Derek laughed, following down the hall.

"It's a pool and a hot tub!" Dawsyn giggled. "But the pool is closed it looks like cause it's winter."

"A hot tub...Did you hear that?" Derek winked at Meredith.

"I did." Meredith took a hold of his hand. "I think bedtime will definitely be enforced."

"Hey." Dawsyn frowned.

"Bedtime still stands even if we live with Derek."

"Yes...It does." Derek said.

"But why?" Dawsyn frowned. "I'll be ten soon."

"And you're still going to have a bedtime."

"Ten years old and you still have to have a bedtime."

"We'll talk about that later." Dawsyn snapped, before turning around to the balcony.

"Dawsyn...watch the attitude." Meredith warned.

"Fine." Dawsyn groaned.

"Dawsyn..." Derek warned.

"I'm not doing anything." Dawsyn stomped.

"Daws..." Meredith raised her tone, looking to Derek. "Someone didn't get to bed last night until one in the morning. So yes...bedtime will still stand."

"Is that clear?" Derek added.

"No." Dawsyn frowned.

"Then I guess you don't want to move here."

"But I want to."

"Daws..." Meredith leaned over. "You're cranky...and moody. I get that. But you're being mean...and we were having a good time. So, stop with the attitude."

"But I don't want the same bed time when we move here." Dawsyn pouted, tears coming to her eyes. "And I want to move into here!"

"Dawsyn..." Derek whispered, kneeling in front of the little girl.

"I want my room...and I don't want a bedtime!" Dawsyn shouted in his face.

"Go downstairs and sit until you can decide that you want to act your age." Derek said calmly.

"I am nine!"

"Dawsyn..." Meredith groaned, "Derek...it's my fault I let her stay up and watch movies."

"I'm not tired."

"If you want to move in here, you're going to have to have a bedtime."

"We'll talk about bedtimes when Dawsyn isn't completely tired." Meredith stepped in. "Daws...go look at your new room."

"Fine." Dawsyn groaned, wiping at her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Derek sighed, as the bedroom door closed.

"It's fine..." Meredith rolled her eyes. "When she's tired and cranky her mood changes so fast and she's stubborn..."

"No...I shouldn't have...That's not my place."

"She respects you...possibly more then she respects me." Meredith shook her head. "It's fine...I just...you should probably know she's a pistol when she's tired and cranky. It changes so quickly."

"I know...She's like her mother." Derek smiled.

"Hey..."

"I love you."

"Hmmm...love you too."

"Should we go look downstairs now...actually go?" Derek chuckled.

"Probably."

"See the counters we're going to have sex on?" He winked.

"Derek..." Meredith giggled, walking down the stairs as she held the rail with the other hand.

"What?" Derek laughed.

"That's dirty and Dawsyn is looking at her new room."

"I know..."

"So...if you get this...when do we move in?"

"The realtor said as soon as we can."

"Hmm..."

"And I actually um...I called an architect."

"Oh?"

"Yeah..."

"That's...for our actual house..."

"Our house." Derek smiled.

"That's...wow."

"Will you come meet the guy with me?"

"Yeah...yeah I will." Meredith smiled coyly, pressing a light kiss against his chin. "But I just...one thing."

"What's that?" Derek whispered.

"Dawsyn...she's always wanted a window seat."

"We can do that."

"I told her one time how that was one of the happiest parts of my childhood...sitting by the window and looking out at night...nobody bothering me." Meredith explained. "She just...she's wanted one ever since."

"Then she'll have one." Derek smiled

"Thanks..."

"And we'll have a balcony."

"Yeah..."

"So we're really doing this?"

"We're really doing this."

"I'll sign the papers tomorrow." He whispered.

"Wow...okay."

"You're sure you want this?"

"Yeah...it's just big and...I'm ready though." Meredith whispered. "My daughter is upstairs pouting but...well you'll get used to it."

"She'll be fine." Derek chuckled.

"I know."

"And the best part...It's close to her school."

"Yeah." Meredith smiled, leaning into him before pressing her lips against his. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just...I've never actually given control to anyone or let anyone take care of me...thank you for at least...helping me do it."

"Hmm...My pleasure." Derek whispered, kissing her.

"I'm not used to sharing Dawsyn."

"I'm not used to being responsible for a child."

"If you don't want...I can do that on my own."

"I want to."

"Mommy!"

"Yeah?" Meredith looked towards the stairs as her daughter came running down.

"Can we get new bedding for my room?"

"Probably not but you could ask Santa."

"Oh...fine." Dawsyn rolled her eyes.

"Are you ready to see the rest of the house?" Derek asked.

"Yeah." Dawsyn nodded.

"To the kitchen..." Derek smiled, pointing them in the direction of the right room, a smile permanently on his face as he watched their reaction to the condo that he would soon own and they would all live in together, like a real family.

"Mommy this is bigger than our old kitchen!"

"It is..."

"Do you like it, Daws?" Derek asked.

"Is there going to be one like this in our other house you're going to build?" Dawsyn turned to face Derek.

"Bigger."

"Woah." Dawsyn giggled.

"Woah." Derek laughed.

"It's nice Derek." Meredith whispered.

"There's a big living room for you to play in too." Derek told Daws as he put his arm around Meredith.

"Cool." Dawsyn ran, opening the door to the back patio.

"She likes it."

"I knew she would."

"I bet you did." Meredith giggled, following Dawsyn out to the decent sized patio.

"We could have a barbeque out here when it's warmer." Derek said, standing in the doorway.

"We could."

"We could even have your birthday party here, Daws."

"With all of my friends?"

"I don't know about all of them." Derek chuckled.

"We'll have to plan that soon." Meredith giggled, turning to kiss Derek.

"Yes we will." He smiled against her lips.

"Mommy...let's go pack our stuff now."

"We...Dawsyn why don't we wait until it's official." Meredith smiled, pulling away from Derek.

"Aww...I don't wanna wait." Dawsyn groaned.

"Well, we can't move until all the other...stuff is done." Meredith sighed. "Derek will let us know when it's time or when he's ready."

"I promise it won't be long." Derek said.

"Okay." Dawsyn sighed, as she walked towards the house.

"I think I better get her some dinner." Meredith replied, leaning into him as her daughter went to explore the place more.

"Okay...I have to go back to work." Derek sighed.

"Okay..." Meredith whispered. "Izzie's staying the night with Alex...they're on again. So she said Dawsyn could sleep in her bed if you wanted to come stay. I know you don't get off until late."

"It shouldn't be too late."

"Okay."

"I'll call you so you won't have to wait up if it's late." He whispered.

"Okay." Meredith nodded, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Sorry about Dawsyn. It's my fault."

"She's...Dawsyn." Derek smiled.

"I'm well aware."

"Maybe she should...go to bed early tonight..."

"She definitely needs bed early."

"Hmm..."

"Okay..."

"This is our home."

"Yeah..." Meredith whispered, giving him a light kiss.

"I'll see you later."

"I'm just going to run to the drug store and get something...then get her dinner...make her take a bath and then hope that she falls asleep early."

"Okay." Derek smiled. "Have a good night."

"You too."

"I'm gonna take care of a few things here before I head back to the hospital so...give Dawsyn a kiss for me."

"I will." She yawned.

"And...rest..." He smirked.

"I will." She giggled.

"Okay...go take care of your hungry daughter."

"Going." She winked, kissing him quickly.

"Bye." He laughed, kissing her again.

"Go back to work." She giggled, leaving him on the patio of their new condo. The condo they were living in together, as a family as he built another, bigger home for them to live in.