AN: The Shepherd's Visit Part 2 is here and ready for you! This explores a lot in one chapter. We have more background characters, harder parenting moments that show just how ameteur Derek still is, and a long-needed apology with some potential forgiveness.

Please review! It keeps me motivated to write. Thank you all!

The Shepherd's visit part two.

True to his word, Derek called me the next day to figure out how we can arrange more time for Mia and his parent's to spend together. I was a little relieved when he asked if Mia could possibly miss a day of preschool to spend with him and his family. I was reluctant though, one I wasn't sure about pulling her out of her routine but also she had never spent time alone with just Derek before. I couldn't miss the clinical hours that I needed to graduate so me going with them was definitely not a solution. I decided that at some point I had to put some faith in Derek and agreed to let them spend the day together after of course gauging Mia's thoughts on it. Susan and Thatcher on the other hand were not happy. That was yet another painful discussion and I could tell they were questioning my parenting but in the back of my mind I reminded myself they didn't have the right. I've never abandoned my kid.

I brought Mia with me to the hospital and she took it all wide-eyed and adorable. She asked question after question and I did my best to answer them. I didn't exactly want her growing up in the hospital like I did, so it wasn't something I wanted to make a regular occurrence. My dad and Susan helped me with Mia so much that bringing her here was never going to have to be an option unless I wanted it to be. With how much we've been butting heads recently, it might be something I need to re-evaluate moving forward.

Derek had mentioned he needed to check on a patient before meeting me at the main nurses' station, the bustling epicenter of the hospital where residents handed down their orders to interns. The space was alive with movement—nurses hustling between rooms, doctors flipping through charts, and the occasional loud page breaking through the din.

I decided I'd wait to change into my scrubs until after dropping Mia off with Derek, but I could feel the weight of every glance as we stood there. The staff was trying to be subtle, but the stolen looks and murmured conversations were unmistakable. Mia, blissfully unaware, was bouncing up and down, her excitement bubbling over as she peppered me with questions.

"Is Daddy going to let me press the elevator buttons? Where are we going today? Do I get donuts?"

Her enthusiasm was infectious, but my nerves simmered beneath the surface. I smoothed her ponytail, a futile attempt to keep her still and to distract myself from the growing whispers.

Just as I was about to snap at the gawkers—or bolt to an empty room—Derek appeared, his grin as bright and easy as ever. He strolled toward us in his street clothes, exuding the kind of casual charm that made people stop and stare. And stare they did. Nurses and other staff members blatantly looked him up and down, their whispers turning into full-on murmurs.

I rolled my eyes internally, my irritation only tempered by the way Mia lit up the moment she saw him.

"Hi, Daddy!" she squealed as Derek scooped her up into his arms.

"Hi, baby," he said, pressing a cascade of kisses to her cheek. Mia's giggles filled the air, her little arms flailing as she tried to escape his ticklish assault.

I couldn't help but smile at the sight of them, even as the stares around us intensified.

"Hey, Mer," Derek greeted me, his tone warm and familiar.

"Hi," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. I hoisted Mia's backpack off my shoulder and handed it to him. "There are snacks in here, just in case."

"Got it." He slung the bag over his shoulder with an ease that spoke to how much he adored being a dad.

"Tell Mommy not to worry, Mia. We have a fun day planned," Derek teased, tickling her side.

Mia squirmed, laughing harder. "Don't worry, Mommy!" she exclaimed between giggles.

"I'm not worried," I replied, attempting to sound calm and collected. But I was worried—nervous, even.

Derek raised an eyebrow, giving me a knowing look. "You forget that I know you, Mer. I know that look."

I hesitated, then sighed. "We've never done this before. You taking her for a whole day… it's new."

He nodded, his tone softening. "It is. But I can do this, Meredith. I'll take care of her."

"I know," I said quickly, my voice betraying my anxiety. "Just in case you get paged or something comes up, I put Thatcher's number in her backpack. He can pick her up if needed."

"Okay," Derek said, his voice steady and reassuring.

I crouched down to Mia's level, brushing a curl from her face. "Can you give Mommy a kiss?"

Mia grinned, leaning in to plant a wet, sloppy kiss on my cheek. I laughed despite myself.

"You're going to have so much fun with Daddy and your grandparents today, okay?" I said gently, smoothing her shirt.

"Okay, Mommy," she chirped, her enthusiasm undimmed.

I stood and glanced at Derek, who was watching me with that trademark grin of his. "I'll send you tons of pictures," he promised, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I nodded, glancing at the clock. "My shift starts soon. I should go."

"Okay. Bye, Mommy!" Derek said, his grin widening as he waved. Mia echoed him, her tiny hand flapping wildly.

I took a step back, my heart heavy with the kind of worry only a mother could understand. Derek looked so happy, like he was completely in his element, while I felt like I was leaving a piece of myself behind.

"Bye," I murmured, turning toward the locker room. As I walked away, I couldn't help but glance back over my shoulder. Derek was spinning Mia around, her laughter filling the air like a soothing melody.

He's got this, I told myself, forcing a deep breath. He's got this.

I went about my day scrubbing in on a neurosurgery where the patient passed quickly after putting him under. It was a disappointment mostly because we lost someone but also because this was supposed to be a six-hour surgery and now I was forced to find something else to do. There seemed to be next to no neuro cases available so I decided to visit some of the other departments just to look around. Peterson was very hands-off and was pissed after the patient died, I could tell he wasn't in the mood for residents, interns and definitely not students.

I knew Mark worked in plastics and figured maybe I should go find him and see if he was free to tell me what exactly went on between him and my sister the other night. He didn't end up leaving my parents until after midnight and they talked nonstop for hours. I never got the chance to catch up with Lexi.

The station that was set up for charting and other administrative tasks on the plastics floor was open so I busied myself reading. I knew I was bound to run into Mark at some point and enjoyed the peace and quiet while I studied.

After a while, I felt some presence but didn't look too ingrained in my current chapter.

"Who was that woman and kid today with Derek?" I heard someone ask. I looked over. She was pretty. Dark hair. Tall. Nosy.

Mark's familiar, smooth voice followed, laced with his trademark mischief. "Probably his daughter and his ex," he said slyly, clearly enjoying himself.

I froze, my fingers tightening around the edges of my book. Mark hadn't noticed me sitting there, and it was painfully obvious he was in full gossip mode.

The woman laughed, but there was skepticism in her voice. "Yeah, okay. Derek doesn't have a kid. I've known him forever, and he's never once mentioned having one."

Mark's tone shifted, becoming almost playful. "It's sort of a new development," he said with a touch of uncharacteristic delicacy.

"Are you messing with me?" she asked, her disbelief palpable. "That was his niece or something, right?"

Mark laughed out loud "Definitely not his niece. Derek is full on daddy dearest now and loving every second of it." Mark continued.

The woman scoffed, crossing her arms. "I don't believe you."

Mark shrugged, clearly relishing the exchange. "You don't have to, but that was Derek's daughter, Mia, and the woman with them? That was his ex-girlfriend, Meredith."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as the conversation continued, their words slicing through the quiet like a scalpel.

"They seemed friendly enough," the woman countered, her voice tinged with suspicion. "Not like disgruntled exes where she hid his kid from him for years or something."

Mark laughed again, louder this time. "Oh, Leah, jealousy does not become you."

"I'm not jealous," she snapped. "I just don't believe you. I've also known you forever, Mark, and I know your games."

Mark leaned against the counter, grinning like a cat who'd caught a particularly juicy mouse.

"Then ask him yourself next time you see him."

"Fine. I will," she shot back, grabbing her charts and stalking off.

Mark watched her go, still chuckling under his breath. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he straightened and followed after her, their voices fading into the distance.

I sat there, seething quietly. It wasn't the first time people had made assumptions about my life, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. But knowing they were speculating about Mia—my daughter—made it harder to brush off.

My phone chimed with a picture from Derek of him and Mia at the zoo. They were both grinning while standing in front of giraffe's. Mia had her arms wrapped around her dad. I hearted the picture and decided to go grab some lunch from the cafeteria. Big mistake. Once I made it there people started staring probably recognizing me from this morning.

Cristina crossed her arms, leaning against the wall as we both stood frozen in the middle of the corridor, surrounded by the awkward silence of too many people not minding their own business. The unmistakable sound of whispers buzzed like static electricity in the background.

"Choosing to do daddy drop-off in the middle of the busiest part of the hospital with McDreamy's kid?" Cristina's voice cut through the tension, dry and pointed. "Stupid."

I shot her a look "How was I supposed to know that people here have no life?"

Cristina snorted, raising an eyebrow. "Hello? You're Ellis Grey's daughter. You should know better than anyone how things work around here." Her gaze flicked to a small group of nurses pretending to review charts while obviously gossiping. "Plus, Dr. Shepherd is like a god in this place. For whatever reason." Her voice dipped into a grumble on the last part, almost drowned out by the sound of someone dropping a tray across the hall.

I sighed "She's a kid, Cristina. Not some scandalous secret I smuggled in. People need to relax."

Cristina tilted her head, studying the room like she was analyzing a particularly perplexing surgery. "Relax? You might as well have strutted in here with a neon sign that says 'Drama Incoming.'" She smirked. "You're officially the hospital's top story today, congratulations. Beat out the guy who came in with a toaster oven stuck to his hand."

"Oh, great. Just what I need," I muttered.

Cristina and I grabbed our trays and scanned the cafeteria for a spot to sit. Of course, as luck would have it, the only empty table was smack in the middle of the room. Reluctantly, we settled in, trying to ignore the fact that half the hospital seemed to be stealing glances in our direction.

"Seriously, these people need to get laid. Losers." Cristina muttered, stabbing her salad with a little too much force.

I smirked, about to reply, when I caught sight of Rory heading our way. His dark hair and easy smile gave him an air of confidence mixed with just enough awkwardness to be endearing. He waved as he approached, and I couldn't help but sit up a little straighter.

"Oh, this should be good," Cristina murmured, leaning forward like she was settling in for a show.

"Meredith?" Rory said when he reached the table, his tone warm and slightly teasing. "I thought that was you."

"Hi, Rory," I said, the corners of my lips tugging upward into a smile I didn't even try to hide.

Cristina's eyebrows shot up so fast I thought they might hit her hairline. "Oh, this is going to be very good," she whispered, clearly enjoying herself.

"Mind if I join you?" Rory asked, gesturing to the open chair across from me.

"Not at all," I said quickly, ignoring the pointed look Cristina was now shooting my way. Rory slid into the seat, setting his tray down with a practiced ease.

"You know," he began, his tone light but deliberate, "I've been looking for you my past few shifts."

"You have?" I asked, tilting my head in mild surprise.

"I have," Rory confirmed, flashing a grin that showed off a dimple I hadn't noticed before.

Cristina rolled her eyes so dramatically I could feel the breeze from across the table. "Ugh," she muttered under her breath.

Rory glanced at her briefly, as if trying to decipher her role in this interaction, but ultimately decided to press on. "I wanted to ask you something," he said, turning his attention fully back to me.

"Okay…" I said cautiously, bracing myself for whatever was coming next.

"I wanted to ask you out," he said plainly, his voice steady but with just a hint of nervousness that made him all the more charming.

I blinked, momentarily thrown by his directness. "Oh?"

"Yeah," Rory continued, his confidence building. "I was thinking maybe we could grab coffee? Or dinner?"

Cristina let out a low whistle, leaning back in her chair with an almost gleeful smirk. "Wow. Straight to the point. Bold move, intern."

I shot her a warning look but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped. "Can I think about it?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

Cristina leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "What is there to think about, Mer? Just say yes or no. It's not like he's proposing."

I sighed, feeling the weight of the stares from other tables and the situation itself. "It's just... things," I said vaguely, then took a deep breath. "I have a daughter," I finally confessed, my voice steady but quiet.

Rory didn't miss a beat. "I know," he said, smiling reassuringly. "The whole hospital knows now, actually."

I frowned slightly. "Mark Sloan has a big mouth," he added with a grin, making Cristina burst into laughter.

"Oh, I like this one," she said between laughs.

I bit my lip, unsure how to respond but oddly touched by his ease. "I see."

Rory leaned back, pulling a napkin and pen from his tray. "Here," he said, scribbling down his number. "Just text me if you decide you want to go out. No pressure."

He slid the napkin across the table, then grabbed his tray and stood up. "It was nice seeing you, Meredith. Bye, Cristina," he added with a polite nod before walking away.

As he disappeared into the crowd, Cristina turned to me, her expression a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

"What?" I asked, feigning innocence as I stared at the napkin in my hand.

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head with a grin. "Just wouldn't be my choice for getting laid but you do you."

I rolled my eyes, stuffing the napkin into my pocket. "Let's just eat."

"Sure, sure," Cristina said, still smirking. "But you are going to text him, right?"

I didn't answer, but the small smile on my face said it all.

Derek's POV:

The zoo was buzzing with activity, the warm sun casting a golden hue over everything. Mia darted ahead, her pink tutu swirling around her as she skipped toward the flamingo enclosure. "Flamingos!" she called out with glee, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Slow down, princess," I told her amused as I followed, keeping pace with her energetic strides.

My parents walked behind, the chatter between them giving me space to gather my thoughts. I watched my daughter with a quiet smile, her joy infectious. It felt so normal to just be spending the day with her. Like we were a normal father and daughter.

"She's got such a spirit to her" I heard my dad say loudly and offered him a grin.

My mom smiled, her eyes following Mia. "She is. So full of , she's so much like Amy," she said, casting a quick glance my way.

I could feel my expression falter slightly at the mention of Amelia. I glanced at his parents, my gaze a little guarded. "Yeah, she's a lot like her. She has a lot of me in her too and Meredith. Mia's strong, like Mer."

My dad nodded, but his focus was on Mia now, who had approached the flamingos and was pressing her face against the glass in awe. "She seems to be settling in well with us. She was so comfortable with us yesterday. You must be doing something right, Derek."

I rubbed my neck. "I think she's just getting used to it, you know? She's had a lot of change recently. It's been a whirlwind for her. I just... I try to be patient with everything. Make sure she knows I'm here for her. I hate that I'm just now able to be her dad."

My mom reached out and placed a hand gently on my arm, her eyes soft with understanding. "You're here now. And that's what matters. But... how is Meredith with all of this? Really. How is she? Not just the face she puts on for everyone else."

I shifted slightly, considering how much I wanted to confide. I felt protective of Meredith and I didn't want anything I say to streer my parents in any sort of direction. I knew they had opinions on everything even if they tried to hide it. "It's complicated," I kept my voice quiet. I didn't want Mia to hear. "We've been talking a lot lately. There's still a lot of hurt between us, especially with... everything that happened. She was nervous about you visiting. I think she's still trying to figure out how to trust this. How to trust me."

I could see a flicker of regret in my dads eyes. "We saw that, Derek. Meredith's been strong for Mia all these years. But... we failed her. We failed miserably. After Amelia..." His voice trailed off, the guilt clear.

I let out a heavy sigh, "We all did, Dad. I didn't... I didn't handle things well as you know."

My moms voice was steady, but full of quiet resolve. "We've made mistakes, Derek. We can't change the past, but we can try to make things right. And Meredith—she's family. Even after everything and all these years that's passed….. She's family."

"I know Ma"

"Daddy, Daddy look!" Mia said excitedly.

I glanced over at Mia, who was jumping up and down in front of the flamingos, her laughter ringing out.

"Wow, baby! Look how pretty!" I responded to her.

Mia entertained herself looking at the interesting creatures in front of her.

"This trip is a start Derek, things will get easier and more natural overtime." my mom continued.

"I just want to make sure I do this right—for her. She's... she's my daughter and I have so much to make up for and I don't know anything about being a dad."

"You're doing just fine son." My dad told me with finality. He wasn't going to let me continue on about my fears because he didn't believe in it. My dad wasn't that kind of guy. He believed in showing up and doing right and that things worked themselves out. I wanted to be more like that.

My parents made their way closer to my daughter, and as they reached Mia, Ma kneeled down to her level. "What do you think, sweetie? Are the flamingos your favorite animal so far?"

Mia's face lit up as she nodded enthusiastically. "I love them! But I bet the lions are bigger and scarier!"

Dad laughed heartily, joining her on the other side. "Lions, huh? Well, let's see if we can find them next."

Mia giggled and grabbed dad's hand, dragging him toward the lion exhibit with surprising strength for her small frame. "Come on, Grandpa! Let's go see if we can find them!"

As we walked, Ma and I followed behind, the weight of the conversation easing as we watched Mia bond with her grandpa.

"She makes me happy." I said at last "For the first time in years, I think I'm happy again mom"

"What a gift Derek," Ma replied softly, her gaze on Mia. "I'm so proud of you."

I smiled, feeling real warmth at her words. I hadn't been a son worthy of making his parents proud for a very long time and I knew it. I glanced at my dad, who was still holding Mia's hand, leading her toward the lion exhibit. I couldn't imagine losing my daughter and I had just met her. The thought of the pain my parents must have felt at losing Amelia the way it happened felt like a stab wound. I wanted to say that to Ma but I didn't want to create any more pain. I just wanted to keep feeling this happiness I felt.

"Thank you," I settled on.

Ma leaned in slightly, her voice soft. "Derek, about Meredith... we just want you to know that we support you. Whatever happens. We're here for all of you."

I knew I would always have their support no matter what.

"I just need some time to figure things out. With Meredith. With Mia." I paused. "Everything's not just about me and my feelings anymore. I have to learn how to put Meredith first and my daughter. I'm not sure that's going to be easy to do."

"I understand," Ma said, her voice warm and understanding. "It seems to come more naturally to your father putting others before himself. I just get lost in my own pain. It's like I can't see outside of it sometimes."

I wrapped my arm around my mom. I knew exactly what she meant.

Later at lunch…..

"So, I think flamingos are the best," Mia said, taking a dramatic bite of her sandwich. "They're like… pink chickens. And I like chickens, but pink is better. It's like... magic."

I laughed. "You know, when I was your age, I thought flamingos were just… weird. I never realized they were magic."

"See, Daddy," Mia said with a smile, "You gotta look closer! Magic is everywhere! That's what mommy tells me."

My parents exchanged amused glances, listening to their granddaughter's enthusiasm.

"Your mommy is right Mia," Ma encouraged.

"I was definitely not this wise when I was four." I chimed.

"No you were not." My dad agreed and my mom swatted his arm playfully.

Mia took a moment to pause, looking at her sandwich with a serious expression. "I don't think I like the crust," she said, holding it out to me like a peace offering. "You can have it, Daddy. You like the crust, right?"

I looked at the offered crust with Mia's little bite marks all around. "Thanks baby" I agreed, taking the sandwich with a laugh. Another note to add to my running list. Mia doesn't like the crust on a sandwich.

I felt my pocket buzz and a message from Mark caught my eye.

"Hey man, guess what? I accidentally told the entire hospital about Meredith and Mia. Everyone's gossiping, so good luck with that. Nurses are having a field day. "

I rolled my eyes "Oh great, Mark. What exactly did you tell them?"

My dad, noticing the text on my phone, leaned over and raised an eyebrow. "What's Mark up to?" he asked

"Oh, you know" I started "Mark decided to tell the entire hospital that I have a daughter now. So the nurses are definitely gossiping about me and Meredith. It's just how he is."

"Wait," Mia interrupted, pointing at my phone with exaggerated curiosity. "That's silly daddy. They saw me and mommy today."

I laughed "Yes, they did.. But Mark gave them confirmation. They weren't sure who you were to me. Now they're just curious about you "

"Why?" Mia asked, squinting her little eyes in confusion. "Do they think I'm gonna eat their sandwiches?"

Ma burst into laughter. "No, sweetheart, they don't think that."

"Good," Mia said seriously, "because if I wanted to eat their sandwiches, I would, but I'm not a sandwich-eating monster."

Dad chuckled, giving Mia a gentle pat on the head. "You're a very polite sandwich-eater, Mia."

"Exactly!" Mia beamed, turning back to her sandwich. "I'm not a monster. But I might eat some more fries if no one's looking."

I laughed, texting Mark back. "I'm not surprised. You just can't help yourself."

Mark's quick reply came through. " It's good drama. It's all over the hospital, man. Everyone's talking. You're even more popular now. Enjoy the attention. "

I rolled his eyes but I wasn't mad. I didn't care who knew that I had a daughter. "Well, Mia," I said, looking at my cute, adorable, silly little girl with an exaggeratedly serious face, "looks like we're famous now. The whole hospital knows about you."

Mia blinked up at me with wide eyes. "I'm always popular wherever I go." she told me seriously as she finished up her sandwich.

"I couldn't imagine why" I replied with a laugh as I picked her up and placed her on my lap. Kissing her cheeks for the hundredth time that day.

Mia made it back to Merdith in one-piece full of sugar and the giggles and I could tell Meredith was relieved. I mentioned to her how my parents asked if we could have dinner tomorrow. She agreed but she didn't seem thrilled. Doing it at my place with all my roommates was definitely not an option so I settled on finding a reservation somewhere kid friendly.

"How long is you staying?" Mia asked after we got her set up with a booster seat. Everyone was looking at their menus
"Are, Mia. How long are you staying?" Meredith corrected softly.

Mia nodded, her little brow furrowing as she absorbed the correction.

"Just a few more days, sweetheart," Carolyn said warmly, leaning in toward her granddaughter with a soft smile.

Mia's lips turned down into a small pout. "That's not long enough," she muttered, her voice carrying just the hint of a whine.

The waiter arrived with the wine, and I quickly reached for the bottle. I filled Meredith's glass first—she'd need it tonight—then moved to my parents' glasses before finally pouring my own.

"Why can't I have any, Daddy?" Mia asked suddenly, her lips forming a perfect pout.

"Because this is for grown-ups," I explained. "And besides, you have juice. It's even tastier."

Mia folded her arms across her chest, her eyes narrowing. "That's not fair," she declared, her voice sharp and indignant.

"Mia," Meredith interjected, her tone steady but edged with warning, "it's not for you. What would you like for dinner?"

"Nothing," Mia shot back immediately, her tone defiant. Her expression—her lips set, her jaw tight—was so much like my own when I was her age that I had to glance away for a moment to keep from smiling.

"You have to eat," Meredith said, leaning toward her. She picked up the kids' menu and pointed to a bright picture of chicken tenders. "Look, they have these. You like them."

"I said no, Mommy!" Mia yelled, slamming her little fists on the table. The silverware rattled, and several heads from nearby tables turned in our direction.

"Mia," Meredith continued firmly, her voice low as she leaned closer, "we don't yell, and we don't bang on the table."

But Mia was in full rebellion mode. "I don't care!" she declared, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't want anything! I want to go home!"

Meredith exhaled sharply, setting her glass down with a soft clink. "That's enough, Mia," she said, her tone clipped as she pushed her chair back.

I opened my mouth to intervene, but Meredith was already standing, reaching for Mia. "Come on. We're taking a little walk," she said firmly.

"No! I don't want to!" Mia shrieked, but Meredith had already lifted her from her seat.

The room seemed to freeze for a moment, the eyes of nearby diners glued to the small drama unfolding. I caught my mother's concerned expression and my father's raised brow, but neither said anything as Meredith carried Mia, still flailing and crying, toward the exit.

I could hear Mia's protests even as the restaurant door swung shut behind them, muffling the sound.

Ma smiled faintly, though there was worry in her eyes. "She's a strong-willed little girl," she said softly. "Reminds me of someone else I know."

My father didn't laugh or offer his usual chuckle. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "Derek," he said in a low, serious tone. "You can't just sit here while Meredith deals with this"

I blinked, surprised. "She's handling it fine—"

"No," he interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "That's your daughter. Meredith might not say it, but it's not just her job to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to discipline. She's her mom, sure, but you're her dad. She needs to see that you're a united front. That means stepping in. Right now."

I opened my mouth to argue but closed it again when I saw the look on his face—one I'd grown up with and learned not to challenge.

"You think I let your mother handle all the tantrums?" he continued, softening his tone just a bit. "Parenting isn't easy and I know you're new to this but you need to step up son."

I glanced at the door Meredith had disappeared through, then back at him. He was right. I hated admitting it, but he was.

With a resigned sigh, I pushed back my chair. "I'm going to go," I said, standing. I touched my dads shoulder to thank him on the way out.

I stepped outside the restaurant, the sound of Mia's cries cutting through the evening quiet. Meredith crouched near her, her back to me, while Mia sat slumped on the edge of a low planter, her little shoulders shaking with sobs.

I lingered for a moment, unsure of what to say or do. This was still new territory for me—parenting, discipline, all of it. Meredith didn't look up as I approached, her attention fully on Mia.

"Mia," Meredith said gently, brushing a tear-streaked curl from her face. "I know you're upset, but I need you to tell me why. Crying doesn't help me understand, sweetheart."

"It's not fair!" Mia wailed, hiccupping.

I stepped closer. "Maybe I could—"

Meredith glanced at me over her shoulder, her expression calm but firm. "I've got this, Derek," she said softly, though her tone wasn't unkind.

I nodded, stepping back. "Right. Sorry." I felt like an idiot. Like I was completely out of place.

"What's not fair, baby?" Meredith asked, turning back to Mia.

Mia sniffled, her voice trembling. "Grandma and Grandpa are leaving," she mumbled.

"I know you really like them but just because they're going back home doesn't mean you're not going to see them again. There will be lots of visits." Meredith assured her.

Mia sobbed louder "But if they leave, what about my daddy"

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Meredith froze for a moment, clearly surprised, but she quickly recovered.

"Oh, sweetheart," Meredith said, sitting down beside her. "Is that what you're worried about? That Daddy will leave, too?"

Mia nodded, her tears spilling over again. "Grandma and Grandpa don't want to stay. What if Daddy doesn't want to stay either?"

I stepped forward, unable to stay silent. "Mia, no," I said, crouching down beside her. "I'm not going anywhere, okay? I promise. I'm staying here with you"

Mia didn't look at me, burying her face against Meredith's arm. "But you just gots here" she said, her voice muffled. "What if you never come back"

My heart twisted painfully. I opened my mouth to respond, but I was at a loss for the words.

"Mia," she said softly, wrapping an arm around her. "Your daddy didn't know about you before, but now that he does, he loves you more than anything. Just like Grandma and Grandpa love you, even when they have to leave."

Mia peeked up at her, her face blotchy and tear-streaked. "But why do they have to leave?"

"They have to go home, sweetie, but that doesn't mean they don't want to be with you," Meredith explained gently. "And Daddy? He's not going anywhere. He's here because he wants to be with you, every single day."

Mia looked at me hesitantly. "Really?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "Really," I said, my voice thick. "I'm staying, Mia. I'm staying because I love you, and I always want to be your daddy."

Mia sniffled, leaning slightly toward me. "Promise?"

"I promise," I said without hesitation.

Meredith smiled softly, brushing a kiss against Mia's forehead. "See, baby? Daddy's here, and he's not going anywhere."

Mia wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Okay," she whispered, her voice still small.

Meredith glanced at me, her expression kind. "Let's go back inside," she said gently. "We need to have dinner."

Mia nodded, reaching for both our hands.

I squeezed Mia's hand gently. I felt like an epic failure.

Meredith's POV

Dinner concluded without any more tantrums and seemed to go well for the most part. Mia was still a ball of energy and Carolyn wanted to talk to me so we decided to go by a nearby park. Mia was perfectly happy to be entertained by her dad and grandpa as Carolyn and I watched on from a park swing.

"Meredith…" she started.

Everything in me wanted to run. I just didn't want to do this.

"I don't want to hear it, Carolyn," I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could even think. I wanted to shut it down, to leave the past where it belonged—buried and forgotten. I wasn't sure I could survive hearing her try to explain away everything she did, everything she didn't do, when Amelia died.

But Carolyn wasn't deterred. She never was.

"I know," she said, her voice breaking. "But you need to hear it. Please."

I hesitated. There was a part of me that wanted to walk away, to shut it all down. To not let her get under my skin again. But there was another part of me—the part that had never stopped wanting her to see me,—that needed to hear it. So I stayed silent, waiting for her to speak again.

"I failed you," Carolyn's voice trembled, raw and full of guilt. I could hear it, could feel it, and I wanted to reject it immediately. I wanted to yell at her, tell her it was too little too late. But I didn't. I just sat there, frozen, waiting for her to continue.

"When Amelia died," she said, her voice shattering slightly, "I couldn't be there for you. I couldn't be the mother you needed me to be. Instead, I shut you out. I pushed you away because I was angry, Meredith. Angry at the world, at that driver that killed her, at Derek for not driving faster or slower just not being at that stoplight, at myself for not being the one dead, and I just- I shut down."

I didn't know what to say so I said nothing.

"I don't…" Carolyn trailed off, the guilt weighing heavy in her voice. "I don't know what else to say. I don't even know how to make up for it. I was so consumed by my own grief, I didn't do the right thing by you. I don't know if Derek's actions had to do with me. I pray to God that they didn't because I know you must have been broken too. And I just…"

The air between us thickened, my chest tightening as I tried to breathe through it. "You left me, Carolyn," I said, my voice a sharp whisper. "You left me when I needed you the most. You just shut me out and kept your distance like I wasn't even part of your family anymore. Like you didn't raise me."

I saw her flinch, like my words hit her harder than anything I could have imagined. She was shaking her head, but there was no defense in her movements, just regret.

"I know," she said, her voice cracking again. "I know. And I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. When we lost Amelia… I should have been the one to hold you, to be there for you. But I was too busy drowning in my own pain to see anyone else's. I've regretted it for a very long time."

"You think you can just apologize, and everything's supposed to be okay now?" I asked, my voice low, barely controlled. I had tears in my eyes.

"No," she replied, her voice small now, almost pleading. "I don't expect anything. I don't think I can fix it, Meredith. I can't take back the years I lost with you. But I need you to know that I'm sorry. That I see how much I hurt you, and that I know what I did… it was unconscionable "

I closed my eyes, letting the silence hang between us. The words were out there now, but they didn't make the hurt go away. They didn't erase the damage.

"I told Derek that I didn't want to re-hash any of this and he respected it for the most part because he can't talk about her with me. " I said quietly.

"I know." Carolyn acknowledged. "Derek broke after her passing. He just broke."

"I broke too." I said, the words more vulnerable than I intended. I hadn't meant to sound so small, but there it was, my own heart still bleeding in places I couldn't touch.

Carolyn's breath caught in her throat, and new tears rushed to her eyes. She reached out, her hand shaking slightly as she took mine.

"You were sisters," Carolyn said, her voice barely a whisper, but it felt like the weight of years pressing down on me. "Real sisters. More her sister than her biological sisters. And I know your pain will never leave you, just like it will never leave any of us."

I nodded, my throat tightening. There was truth in her words, truth that hit too close, too raw. I wanted to say something, anything to make the ache go away, but it felt impossible. I'd spent years keeping my grief at arm's length, burying it under layers of silence and distraction, but hearing her say it aloud made it all feel real again. Too real.

The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating, until I spoke again. "Now that I have Mia, now that I have a daughter, I hurt even deeper for you and Michael. She's the only thing keeping me going." I let out a shaky breath, the confession scraping against my ribs like glass. "If I didn't have her after Amy… I don't think I'd be here anymore."

Carolyn didn't pull away or shy from my truth. Instead, she nodded, her eyes full of that same understanding. She'd been where I was, buried in her own loss, and now she was seeing me in a way she hadn't before. I could feel it in the way she held my hand, in the way her eyes softened with something like shared recognition.

She didn't say anything, but I didn't need her to. She understood. She understood what it meant to lose someone so completely, so painfully, that it rewrote everything about who you were. And she understood what it felt like to survive only because someone else needed you, even when it felt impossible to keep going.

I squeezed her hand, the only thing I could do to offer some form of connection at that moment. We didn't need more words. Not right now.

AN: So, what do you think of Carolyn and Meredith's talk? What do you think about Rory and Leah? Oh and Cristina and Mark providing the much needed comedic relief? Can't wait to hear your thoughts!