Chapter 59: Mother and Son Talk

Derek was nervous. He shouldn't be nervous. It was just his mother. But she wanted to talk to him about Meredith and Dawsyn. She clearly liked them, but he still didn't know what she was going to say to him. He made sure Meredith and Dawsyn were set upstairs for Dawsyn's bath before heading back downstairs into the kitchen where his mom was cleaning up from dinner. "Do you need some help?"

"You can wipe the table down if you would like." His mother replied, drying off one of the last pans. "Is Meredith still looking for Dawsyn's book?"

"No...It was in the bottom of her suitcase." Derek answered, picking up a dish towel.

"Oh, that's good." The older woman replied, sliding the pan into the bottom drawer.

"She's just taking a bath." He said, sitting down at the table.

"Well, that's good, she seemed pretty excited to watch a movie tonight."

"She is." Derek smiled. "She kept asking Mer if she could take a bath tomorrow and watch the movie right now."

"It's a classic."

"Hmm..."

"Well, I guess that means you know we have to talk."

"Yeah..."

"Hmm..."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"A few things."

"A few things..." Derek nodded.

"I'm thinking first we could start with something Dawsyn mentioned to me that I found quite interesting."

"Oh god...She told you about the trailer..."

"The what?"

"She...What did she tell you?"

"Nothing about a trailer yet..."

"Right..."

"Is there something about this trailer I should know?" She crossed her arms.

"What trailer?" Derek smiled.

"Oh for heaven's sake..."

"What did Dawsyn tell you?"

"Well, I happened to ask her about her father which...I know it wasn't my place, but I was curious." His mother sighed.

"Mom..." Derek groaned.

"I shouldn't have asked."

"No...You shouldn't have."

"But I did." Carolyn replied. "And she said something."

"You still haven't told me what it was that she said."

"She told me that she didn't have a father because her mother didn't know who her father was."

"Okay..."

"And that is an interesting thing for a twelve-year-old little girl...who happens to be very bright to say."

"She's...that's true." Derek sighed.

"And that you're her only Daddy."

"The only one she's known...Yes."

"Derek this complicates things." His mother sighed.

"No it doesn't."

"I'm not going to judge Meredith, because she makes you happy, she's very kind and she seems like an amazing mother, but she doesn't know the poor child's father."

"She was in college...She made mistakes..." Derek groaned.

"And I'm sure that is true..."

"Then what's the problem? "

"It just concerns me. I know it shouldn't, but it does."

"It doesn't concern me...So it shouldn't concern you. Dawsyn is an amazing little girl and Meredith...She's..."

"The love of your life."

"Yeah."

"Derek...you're in love and I think that's great. I love Dawsyn and Meredith, and I just met them." His mother sighed. "But there is a child involved here."

"I know that, Mom." Derek snapped.

"It was wrong of me to ask Dawsyn about her father and I'm sorry."

"Is that it?"

"Well, I just worry that this is a little rushed." His mother sighed. "You're living together, Dawsyn is calling you Daddy..."

"Rushed?"

"Yes."

"I'm not sixteen, Mom."

"So, I know you understand just how quickly this is all moving." She crossed her arms, leaning against the marble countertop.

"Yes...I know."

"Derek..."

"What?"

"I want you to be happy...but Dawsyn is now my main concern."

"Are you concerned about me...or about her?"

"Both of you...Derek she's a child and this is all happening so quickly, and I pray it works out but if it..."

"Stop."

"Derek, you have to think about this."

"I have thought about it. And this is what I want."

"Derek, I want you to be happy. I believe Meredith is the one for you because you've never been that happy with someone. But I also know that the little girl upstairs, calls you Daddy and she's never called anyone that because she doesn't know her real dad for whatever reason."

"Are you trying to tell me that I shouldn't be in this relationship?"

"Derek, you know I would never do that."

"You did it when I met Addison."

"Meredith isn't Addison." His mother sighed.

"Exactly."

"What happens if this fails?"

"It's not going to."

"But if it does, what happens to Dawsyn? And what happens with Meredith?" She asked.

"We've been through it once...And it's not going to happen again." Derek replied.

"I want you two to be happy."

"We are happy."

"I know, but as your mother I have to make sure this is going to be okay. You two haven't been together for that long and I believe you are in love. I believe Meredith adores you, but Dawsyn..."

"Dawsyn's a strong kid." Derek sighed. "She's...she's tough and if anything did happen, she could get through it..."

"Could you?"

"That is what I was afraid of."

"I'm in love with her...And Dawsyn...They're my life now...my family..." Derek breathed.

"I'm glad you're happy with them, I just hope you understand my concerns."

"I understand...And I appreciate it. But it's not going to change anything."

"I don't want it to." She sighed, taking a step forward. "You're my son and I love you. Your happiness is important to me, and I love Dawsyn. She's a very sweet, kind, and a smart little girl that I am proud to call my Granddaughter. Meredith...she's lovely. Skittish but lovely."

"She's...amazing." Derek whispered.

"She's nervous."

"Can you blame her?"

"Of course not, she's going to meet Nancy soon."

"Oh god..." Derek laughed.

"She lights up around you."

"Hmm..."

"She's nervous Derek but the one time she doesn't seem to freak out is when you are in the room."

"Because I protect her." Derek laughed.

"Just make sure everything you do, you know you're doing the right thing for Dawsyn and Meredith as well."

"I am."

"Because she's calling you her Daddy and...if that's what you want to be...and I do hope it truly is...then they're your responsibility now."

"That's...what I want to be." Derek smiled. "I want to be her Daddy and Meredith's..."

"So are you a family of three?"

"For right now."

"For right now?" His mother smirked.

"We're not having any babies anytime soon." Derek laughed.

"Oh...I was hoping you were going to tell me that you were hoping to have a few more."

"Eventually."

"You know I'm still happy for you, even if I have to play the concerned mother card."

"I know."

"To be quite honest, Meredith is going to make one adorable pregnant woman."

"I know that too." Derek laughed.

"She's so tiny." His mother exclaimed.

"She's...She's it for me."

"Then take care of them." His mother said quietly. "Don't let Meredith freak out about the sisters. Warn her not to take anything Nancy says personally."

"I don't think she can not freak out." Derek chuckled.

"I'm happy for you."

"Thank you Mom."

"Just take care of yourself...make Meredith happy and be a father. I don't need to know the details of Meredith's past, it's none of my business, just make sure we're apart of her present. Okay?"

"I will."

"I better make a plate of cookies, some glasses of milk and some popcorn for Dawsyn...what's her middle name?"

"Elizabeth."

"Well, I better go make a snack for my granddaughter Dawsyn Elizabeth...hopefully Shepherd one day."

"She will be." Derek smiled, standing up. "I'll um...I'll be upstairs."

"Okay...and Derek?"

"Yeah?"

"You're going to be as great of a father as your dad was."

"Thank you Mom." Derek whispered.

"Now, go get Daws."

"I'm going..." Derek laughed. "Let us know if you need anything."

"Okay son."

"One more thing..."

"Yes?" She smiled, watching her son stop in the doorway.

"I lived in a trailer..." Derek smiled. "Good night!"

"Oh Dear..." His mother sighed, turning around to face the sink as her son rushed out of the room.