There was no dinner cooking on the hob. There were no plates in the dishwasher. There were no clothes hanging up on the line. There were toys all over the floor. There were dishes stacked up at the sink.

Meredith had had the day off...but the house was still as bad as it was when he left.

After settling Zola, Bailey and Ellis with their toys, he searched the downstairs rooms, but didn't find her. When he moved upstairs, he headed to their bedroom first, only to pause when he got there. His wife was lying on top of their bed, facing away from the door in a ball-like position.

He moved to the side of the bed she was facing, and softly asked, "Are you okay?"

"No. Not really." She admitted honestly with a frown after a long moment; she hadn't noticed that he was there until he spoke.

He swallowed. Meredith always answered yes to that question, no matter how much she was hurting. Every. Single. Time. "What's wrong?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Mer-" He got a little closer. She looked so sad. "What's going on?"

She stared at him, but didn't speak.

"Please, just tell me."

"I didn't take my pill for two days. And-" She blinked tears. "Twelve-year-old Meredith who used to faint in class at the start of every month is back."

"Oh, Mer." He sighed. He was never quite sure why they were so surprised that she had problems carrying, considering her history; Meredith had told him a long time ago that she required her prescription to be able to do anything during her period, and he almost thought she was kidding until she didn't take it for a few days, and she didn't move from the bed for about two days because she literally couldn't.

"I'm sorry I haven't done anything around the house, it just hurts so much-"

"No, no. Please don't worry about that. It's okay. I can do it later."

"And now I'm complaining to my male husband about my period. Which is definitely not what he wants to hear about after a long day at work or just...generally."

"My day wasn't massively tiresome, and I feel fine." He returned. "And about the me-being-a-man thing, I have four sisters; I know about periods."

"But you don't really want to have to know about them. Or, specifically, your wife's."

"If you're hurting, I want to know. I don't care if you think it's gross. Okay? I want to help. Please."

"Daddy?" A voice called from behind the pair.

He looked round at that to find Bailey in the doorway. "Hey Bailey. You okay?"

"I need you."

"I'm just talking to Mommy now because she isn't feeling great, could I come in a minute?"

"I need you now." He pleaded.

He sighed. "Okay, bud. But not for long, because I really do need to talk to Mommy."

"It not take long." Bailey reassured his dad.

Derek nodded and kissed Meredith on the cheek before following his son out of the room, and heading downstairs.

"So...um-" He looked at his tray. He didn't even know where to start, so he just chose a random item to start with, and began placing the items on her bedside table. "That herb tea you always have when you have a cold, because I thought this was close enough. Some acetaminophen- and a glass of water to take it with because I know you can't take it with any other drink. Liquid acetaminophen too- incase you can't manage a pill right now. A bar of chocolate, because my sisters always ate chocolate so it must be the thing to do. And then a hot water bottle, which I am 100% sure is world-wide period-thing, not just a my-sisters thing."

She smiled. He was so sweet. So freaking sweet. So freaking, adorably sweet. She thought he'd been gone for so long because he was with Bailey, but it probably took him a good 10 minutes to prepare all this for her, and get back up to the bedroom without spilling her tea or water.

"Do you need anything-" He tried to ask, only to interrupt himself. "Oh- actually, I'm also going to get you a towel so you don't have to worry so much about getting up. Also- I need to check the bathroom for supplies because once Nancy was out when she really needed one and she really freaked out and I need you to be as calm, and happy, and relaxed as possible. Oh- and also I'm cooking dinner for you, don't worry that it's your night. Is there a particular food you would like, or is something healthy better for, you know, the nutrients and stuff?"

An adorable, sweet mess, actually. He was trying so hard, but he was a little chaotic in his efforts.

"A towel would be great, I think the downstairs toilet is fine for supplies but I'm not sure about the en-suite, and I would really freaking love you if you could make some mac and cheese. Although, maybe, as you said, chuck some salad on the side."

He nodded. "And is the stuff that I got okay? Do you want a different drin-"

"Derek." She interrupted. "You're already more impressive than any man I've ever been with, you can calm down. Breathe."

He sighed out a long breath. "Sorry. I just really don't like seeing you in pain."

"I get it. I'm the same." She smiled. "Although, actually, there is one thing I could do with."

"Yeah?"

"A kiss." She said cheekily, although she knew he wouldn't mind. In fact, he'd do the opposite.

He beamed back, and kissed her. "Better?"

"Better."