Chapter 56: An Important Question

They weren't supposed to be in the airport this long. They got here when they were supposed to with plenty of time to check their bags and go through security, only to get to their gate and find out that their plane was delayed. After waiting an hour, finding out the plane was delayed another two hours. Now, it was getting late, Meredith was exhausted from working the night before and Dawsyn was getting sleepy from her motion sickness medicine.

Right now, they should've been on the plane. They should've been sleeping, playing a card game, or having a snack, but instead they were sitting in the airport at the gate with everybody else waiting to get on their flight.

"The delay is still two hours." Derek sighed, sitting back down after talking to the flight attendant who was handing out bottles of water.

"I want to go now." Dawsyn complained, rubbing her eyes as she sat between Derek and Meredith.

"I know." Meredith yawned, taking lifting her carryon bag. "Do you want some fruit snacks?"

"No...And I don't want crackers either." Dawsyn whined.

"Okay..." Meredith whispered, rubbing her daughter's back as she looked at Derek, her eyes tired.

"Do you want to take a walk Daws?" Derek asked. "We could go see some other planes taking off."

"No." Dawsyn murmured, yawning a little.

"Daws...I brought a tiny fleece blanket it my bag if you want to lay down on my lap." Meredith whispered.

"I want to leave." Dawsyn whispered.

"I know...I'm sorry kiddo." Derek sighed, kissing her cheek.

"Daws...our plane isn't even here yet." Meredith whispered.

"Do you want your iPod?"

"I want a bed." Dawsyn rubbed her eyes.

"I knew we should have waited to give her the medicine." Meredith groaned. "I had a feeling and she's...she's tired. Now, she's going to be moody when she meets your mom."

"It's not your fault." Derek sighed. "Daws, do you want to try to sleep, and we can wake you up when the plane gets here?"

"No because you'll leave me." Dawsyn sniggled, her body swaying from the drowsiness induced by the medicine.

"We won't leave you." Derek chuckled. "You'll be right here on my lap. I couldn't leave you."

"I'm cold..."

"Here." Meredith pulled the small wrapped up blanket from the bag.

"Do you want me to go get her something to eat?" Derek whispered as Dawsyn tried to get comfortable.

"Excuse me Airline passengers, flight 3435 to New York JFK, your flight has now been delayed until twelve o'seven AM." The attendant said, before turning off the speaker.

"Should we just go home and get another flight tomorrow?" Derek sighed.

"We're already here and...she'll fall asleep or something soon." Meredith yawned.

"When can we get on the plane?" Dawsyn asked, yawning a little.

"Not for awhile, Daws." Derek whispered, running his hand over her hair. "Just try to go sleep."

"Dawsyn, do you want a crossword puzzle?" Meredith asked.

"No..." Dawsyn groaned.

"Do you have to go to the bathroom?" Meredith asked.

"I want to go to sleep."

"I know." Meredith replied, wrapping her arm around her daughter. "Why don't you try and get to sleep, and we'll get you on the plane...then when we get the rental car in New York you can sleep during the drive."

"Meredith, do you want me to get you some coffee?" Derek whispered as Dawsyn eyes fluttered open and closed.

"Hmm...no." Meredith looked up at him.

"I'm tired." Dawsyn whimpered.

"I know." Derek sighed. "A snack might make you feel a little better."

"I want my bed." Dawsyn murmured as Derek pulled her into his lap.

"I know kiddo." Derek whispered, rubbing her back.

"I don't like this medicine Mommy gave me...it's not nice."

"Daws...I'm sorry." Meredith snapped. "You get motion sickness, and you needed something!"

"Okay...Meredith, do you want to get her a little snack?" Derek said, giving her a sympathetic look.

"Fine." Meredith sighed, "Daws...what do you want?"

"Cookies...or french fries." Dawsyn mumbled.

"Okay." Meredith replied, leaning down to look for her wallet. "Derek...anything for you?"

"No thank you." He smiled, rubbing Dawsyn's back gently.

"I'll get us a water." Meredith replied, taking a few bills out. "I'll be right back."

"Okay."

"Thank you Mommy." Dawsyn mumbled.

"You're welcome." Meredith leaned over, kissing Derek before walking away.

"I'm sorry about this, Daws bug." Derek whispered.

"I'm tired." Dawsyn sighed, turning her head.

"Me too."

"I just want to sleep." Dawsyn whimpered, her head resting on Derek's shoulder. "We were supposed to be on our plane a few hours ago."

"Yeah we were...But there's a lot of snow in New York so we can't go yet."

"But I took medicine."

"I know kiddo...But you know what...I think I have something that will make you feel better."

"Is it time to get on the plane?" Dawsyn asked, lifting her head a little.

"Not yet...But I have a very important question for you." Derek said.

"Okay." Dawsyn wiped her eyes.

"I bought something very special for your Mommy for Christmas."

"You did?"

"I did...And I have to ask a very important question to give it to her...but first I wanted to ask you if it was okay."

"Okay." Dawsyn yawned.

"Would it be okay with you if I asked your Mommy to marry me?" Derek whispered.

"Oh.." Dawsyn breathed, sniffling a little bit. "And you'll give her a real ring?"

"Yup. I have it in my bag." Derek nodded.

"Oh." Dawsyn smiled weakly.

"What do you say?"

"I want you to ask her." Dawsyn whispered.

"You do?"

"Yeah."

"I'm going to ask her in New York."

"If we ever get there." Dawsyn sighed dramatically.

"We will." Derek chuckled.

"And then you'll ask Mommy to marry you?"

"On New Year's."

"That's so far away."

"I know but you have to do something for me."

"What?" Dawsyn yawned.

"You can't tell Mommy." Derek said.

"I won't."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Dawsyn giggled tiredly.

"Okay...I have cookies...water...french fries and some carrots." Meredith replied, approaching them again.

"Sounds good." Derek smiled.

"Here Daws Bug..." Meredith handed Daws the french fries before sitting down. "You need to go to bed."

"We all do." Derek sighed, giving Meredith a quick kiss as she sat down.

"Well, I know a ten year old who doesn't do well with little sleep."

"I think I know her too."

"We still have a few more hours Daws, so I need you to try and fall asleep." Meredith yawned, taking a bite of a carrot before holding it to Derek's mouth.

"Thank you." Derek smiled, taking a bite.

"Should I give her more medicine when we board the plane, so she sleeps on there and doesn't get sick?"

"I think she's going to be out." Derek chuckled, as Dawsyn nodded off.

"She only ate like three french fries." Meredith giggled tiredly, taking the basket of fries from Dawsyn. "Are you done Dawsyn?"

"Uh huh..." Dawsyn mumbled.

"Okay." Meredith giggled, resting her head on Derek.

"I'm sorry about this, Mer."

"It's not a big deal...I didn't mean to snap at her or you."

"You're forgiven." Derek smiled, kissing her forehead.

"You may have to carry her onto the plane."

"Hmm...That's okay." Derek breathed. "You can go to sleep too. I'll wake you up when it's time to board."

"I can wait with you." Meredith whispered, as she rubbed Dawsyn's back.

"You can sleep...I don't mind."

"Maybe just for a few minutes."

"Okay..."

"And wake me up in about ten minutes?" She whispered, resting her head on his shoulder, one hand of hers on Dawsyn's back.

"I will." Derek whispered.

"Okay." She breathed, closing her eyes.

"Okay..." Derek smiled, kissing her forehead as her eyes slowly closed. This wasn't so bad after all. Sure, being stuck in the airport wasn't exactly pleasant but there wasn't anybody else that he'd rather be here with. Now he had Dawsyn's permission to propose, and he was going to do it while they were in New York. It was fast. Proposing after four months was fast, but there was no use in delaying. Whether he did it now, or a year from now, it was going to happen, and he was going to be with her for the rest of his life.