Chapter 58: We Need to Talk Later

"Do you have two...sixes?" Dawsyn asked, holding her game cards in front of her as she played Go Fish with Derek's mother. She took another bite of the cookie on her plate, before looking back at Derek's mom.

"Go Fish." Carolyn replied, looking down at her cards.

"Aww Man." Dawsyn sighed dramatically, taking a card from the deck in front of her as Meredith walked into the room. "Hey Mommy...we're playing Go Fish."

"Hey...Daws Bug." Meredith smiled, walking over and kissing her daughter's head.

"Did you sleep well?" Carolyn asked, looking up at Meredith.

"Yeah...I told Derek to wake me up when he got up, but I guess he forgot." Meredith pushed her hair behind her ears. "He's just doing some last-minute research."

"Always working, that one." Carolyn chuckled.

"He's a brain surgeon, he has to." Dawsyn replied.

"Dawsyn..." Meredith whispered.

"It's okay." Carolyn smiled. "I suppose it's my turn now."

"Yeah." Dawsyn nodded.

"Okay..." Carolyn said, looking at her cards. "Do you have any fives?"

"Hey." Dawsyn frowned, handing Carolyn her five of hearts.

"My turn again?"

"Yeah."

"Do you have any...nines?"

"Go Fish." Dawsyn sighed, before taking a deep breath. "I have to go to the bathroom."

"Alright." Carolyn laughed. "I'll be right here."

"Watch my cards Mom." Dawsyn replied, handing Meredith her stack, "Don't let Grandma see."

"I won't." Meredith giggled weakly, as Dawsyn left the kitchen.

"Would you like something to eat, dear?" Carolyn asked, laying her cards down.

"Oh um...I don't have to." Meredith said quickly. "I know I slept through breakfast but...it's okay."

"Don't worry. There are bagels and some pastries on the table if you'd like."

"Oh...okay." Meredith walked over to the table, reaching for an éclair.

"Is Derek going to join us?"

"Oh um...he said he would be in and out." Meredith sighed, moving to sit at the counter. "He's helping work out the budget for the new year and he just has some research to finish up."

"I swear he never takes a break." Carolyn sighed.

"He um...he's been great at home."

"Talking about me?" Derek asked, coming in from the study.

"Hey." Meredith smiled, looking up at him. Her eyes shined as he stepped closer.

"Good morning." Derek grinned, leaning over, kissing her.

"Morning." She giggled.

"Did you have breakfast?" He whispered, kissing her again.

"I'm having an éclair." She smiled, holding it up to his lips as his mother watched them together.

"Mmm...Thank you." He smiled, taking a bite.

"You two are going to make your sisters sick." His mother chuckled.

"Oh...sorry." Meredith pulled away.

"Mom..." Derek groaned.

"Meredith...I think you two are adorable." Carolyn smiled, taking a sip of her coffee. "I love that you two are so happy...enjoy it."

"See...I told you." Derek whispered, kissing her again as Dawsyn came running back into the room.

"Grandma, you didn't cheat did you?" Dawsyn replied, moving back onto the bar stool.

"No I didn't." Carolyn laughed.

"Dawsyn." Meredith groaned.

"What?" Dawsyn looked between Derek and Meredith.

"Just...be nice." Meredith sighed.

"Alright...Back to work." Derek sighed.

"Alright." Meredith frowned.

"You can come visit me."

"Okay." Meredith breathed, as he bent over to kiss her.

"Come visit me." He whispered against her lips.

"Now?"

"Now..."

"If you two need some alone time, Dawsyn and I are perfectly entertained." His mother grinned, looking down at the cards.

"Oh um..."

"Thank you Mom." Derek smiled, helping Meredith off her stool.

"We'll be right back." Meredith said, almost trying to explain herself.

"Take your time...you must still be tired and worn out from the delayed flight."

"Yes...we are..." Derek smiled, pulling her towards the study.

"Derek..." Meredith groaned.

"They like to kiss a lot." Dawsyn giggled.

"Well, that's a good thing." Carolyn laughed. "Since they're adults...and they're happy."

"Can we keep playing?" Dawsyn asked, picking up her cards.

"Yes Dawsyn."

"Do you have any twos Grandma?" Dawsyn asked, as Meredith and Derek disappeared into the study.

"Dawsyn..." Carolyn put the cards down, and placing her hand on Dawsyn's small one.

"Yeah?"

"So...you seem to really like Derek."

"He's my Daddy…Well he's not my real Daddy."

"But your real Daddy doesn't mind that you like Derek?"

"Mommy says I don't have a real Daddy...But...Oops."

"Oops?" Carolyn smirked.

"Nothing."

"Where does your Dad live Dawsyn?" Carolyn frowned.

"Mommy doesn't know who he is." Dawsyn whispered.

"She...oh." Carolyn adjusted her glasses, trying to take in what the smart twelve-year-old had said. "So...well your Mommy is rather young...not that it's important. She seems to love you enough...so you don't have a Dad."

"That's what she says...She says she loves me enough for a mom and dad. But now I have Derek. He's my Daddy now." Dawsyn explained.

"Oh well that's good enough."

"It's your turn."

"Oh well, then, do you have any sixes?"

"Are you sure you didn't cheat?" Dawsyn sighed, handing over the card.

"I am sure Daws." Carolyn let out a light chuckle, making a mental note to talk to her son later. "So...you like living with Derek?"

"Yeah. He bought a house and then we moved in but he's building another house too."

"Oh okay." She smiled, watching as Meredith walked into the kitchen, fixing her hair slightly.

"How is it going?" Meredith smiled, walking slowly into the room.

"Excellent...How are you?" Carolyn chuckled.

'I'm good...really...so how is the fish?"

"I think I'm gonna lose." Dawsyn sighed dramatically.

"Oh, that will happen sometimes." Meredith smiled, looking slightly less tense.

"Is Derek almost through with his work?"

"Yeah...he said once he's done, he'll come right out." Meredith whispered.

"I was thinking we could take Daws out for a walk to see the neighborhood where Derek grew up." Carolyn suggested.

"Oh, can we?" Dawsyn gasped. "Please Mommy...please?"

"I um...I don't see why not."

"Great."

"It's cold out though Daws so you have to get bundled up."

"We brought my winter coat." Dawsyn replied. "Do you have eights, Grandma?"

"It seems that I do." Carolyn handed her a card.

"I won!"

"You sure did." The older woman chuckled.

"Can I go get my coat on Mommy?"

"Yeah...and tell Derek to come on." Meredith giggled.

"Derek! Hurry up!"

"Dawsyn...quietly go get him." Meredith sighed.

"Derek!" Dawsyn yelled again, running into the study.

"Sorry about that." Meredith said to Derek's mother. "She's loud and...well she's Dawsyn which might not make sense but..."

"Don't worry about it, Dear." Carolyn smiled. "My four girls were just like that."

"She just adores him and...I can't take that away from her."

"You don't have to."

"So, I hear...we're going on a tour of my childhood..." Derek laughed, coming out of the study, Dawsyn over his shoulder.

"Derek...put her down." Meredith smiled, walking up to them as Dawsyn giggled over his shoulder. "She has to get her coat and her gloves...you know the drill."

"Ruin all my fun." Derek rolled his eyes, putting her down.

"Daws...coat."

"Fine..." Dawsyn sighed, going up stairs.

"So...you two better get bundled up too..." His mother smiled, looking between the two. "Oh and I was thinking of watching Miracle on 34th Street with Daws tonight if you two want to turn in early or watch an adult movie."

"An adult movie?" Derek smirked, kissing Meredith's cheek.

"Derek..." Meredith gasped.

"Anyways..." His mother swatted at her son with a towel. "There is a television in your room now."

"Hey..." Derek laughed. "Don't hit me."

"I'm your mother." She chuckled. "I can hit you when I want."

"Yeah." Meredith giggled. "Listen to your mom."

"Mean...Mean people." Derek pouted.

"I'm going to go check on Dawsyn." Meredith giggled. "I um...I'll be right back Carolyn..."

"I'll be right there to get my coat." Derek laughed.

"Okay." Meredith smiled, waving awkwardly at his mother before joining her daughter upstairs.

"I assume you'll make time for us to talk one on one later." His mother crossed her arms.

"Uh oh..."

"Save the sarcasm young man."

"I'm going to get my coat." Derek rolled his eyes.

"And the eye rolling."

"See you in a few minutes!" He called, going the stairs.

"Yes, you will." Carolyn shook her head, before walking to the front of the house to bundle up. They needed to talk, because she had fallen in love with Dawsyn already, even Meredith, although she was still scared. She understood Meredith being afraid, but she needed to talk to Derek before she could help Meredith feel anymore comfortable.