AN: Thank you for your patience! I think this site is having some issues because I've had a hard time uploading! We are experiencing some bliss and happiness in this chapter. Enjoy it while it lasts :) I appreciate all of your kind reviews. They keep me motivated to update and write more. I'm very excited for where this story is heading and how much story we've built so far. There is still more story to tell.

Derek and I fell into an easy rhythm. He came over almost every night to see Mia. We took walks. We took her to dinner. We dated. We kissed. We had sex. We picked up where we left off. Loving him felt good. Being loved by him felt even better. I never dreamed we would have this ever again.

Mia wasn't aware that we were dating. We did our best to maintain more of a friendship demeanor when in her presence until things felt solid. I could tell she sensed something though. Susan and my dad were not fans of Derek and I trying the whole dating thing. They felt it was too fast although Susan admitted that after she saw us together for the first time, she knew it was inevitable. I chose not to confide in them too much about how things were going. Time would be the only thing that could prove this meant something.

At the hospital, it was a bit different. Derek and I were free-er to relax into each other at least within reason. I had now moved on to my next assignment, but he and I found ways to run into each other. We would have lunch outside, or at nearby restaurants, sometimes in the cafeteria but not often. Recently, Mia's preschool had been reaching out about some behavioral issues she was having. They felt Mia was too advanced for their program and was acting out because of boredom. They suggested I find a more advanced preschool for her and gave me a list of suggestions. I finally received a call back from one wanting to set up an interview. It felt odd to have to do an interview for my four year old, but if this is what she needed, I would do it.

"Hey" Derek said as he caught me coming out of the on-call room. I closed the phone and put it in my scrub pocket.

"You okay? You look distracted." He stated, his face full of concern.

"Yeah, I got a call back from that fancy preschool. They want Mia to come in for an interview and they want to interview us as well and probably judge us and decide if she's good enough or smart enough or whatever" I rambled.

Derek grinned at me "That's great! When do they want to meet her?"

"And us. As in both of us. They're going to grill us about this and probably judge us for not being married."
Derek rolled his eyes playfully "I'm sure they talk to parents in our same situation all the time."

I glared at him "I don't think so"
"Okay, well probably not exactly the same situation but they don't have to know everything. We can be selective about what we share."

I nodded "Yeah I guess, you know it's expensive too-" I started but was cut off.

"I've got it." Derek told me with finality. "I don't care what it costs."

I smiled "Okay" I told him

Derek glanced over at the door, then back at me with a playful glint in his eyes. "So... lunch? Or should we skip straight to something else?"

I pulled him back into the on-call room, a mischievous smile on my face. "Let's skip lunch."

Derek grinned into our kiss as he pulled me against him. His hands found their way under my scrub top as his hands touched my bare skin softly.
"Your skin is soft" he muttered quietly against my lips.

His words vibrated softly against my lips, sending a thrill through me. The sensation of his hands moving against my bare skin was intoxicating, the light touch of his fingertips feeling both familiar and exciting at the same time. As he pulled me tighter against him, I could feel the warmth of his body, his chest solid against mine, his breath mingling with mine, creating a heady connection between us that made my pulse race.

I pulled back slightly, needing to catch my breath, but the moment he looked at me, his eyes dark with desire, the words were caught in my throat. I didn't need to say anything. The air between us was thick with unspoken words, with everything we had been holding back—everything that had been simmering beneath the surface since we found our way back to each other.

His hand slid up my back, the soft material of my scrub top moving beneath his touch as his fingers brushed over the curve of my spine. The warmth of his skin against mine was overwhelming in the best way, every inch of contact leaving a trail of heat that spread through me, making everything else in the world fade away.

His mouth found mine again, this kiss slower, more deliberate, like he was savoring every moment, every second that we had here, just the two of us. He pulled me even closer, so close that I could feel the subtle shift of his muscles beneath his shirt, the way his body seemed to mold with mine as if we were always meant to fit together like this.

His hands moved down my sides, slipping beneath the waistband of my scrubs, and I gasped quietly as his fingers grazed the skin of my hips. The sensation sent a shock of electricity through me, my body reacting instinctively, and I kissed him harder, as if the urgency in the kiss would somehow match the pace of my heart, which was racing out of control.

"Derek..." My voice was barely above a whisper, but the intensity behind his touch told me everything I needed to know. He wasn't pulling back. Not now.

He pulled away just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine, his chest rising and falling with each breath we took. There was a soft smile on his lips, but his eyes were full of that unmistakable fire—the same fire that had always existed between us, the one that had never fully burned out, no matter how much time had passed.

"You know," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin, "I've been fantasizing about this. You and me in the scrub room. Touching you like this."

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening in the fabric of his shirt as I tried to collect my thoughts. His words, sending me up a cliff, made everything feel even more real. This wasn't just a moment of passion, a fleeting connection—it was something deep. Always had been. Always would be. We spent our lunch break wrapped in each other and I was on a high the rest of the day.

That night, we walked out of the hospital hand in hand ready to go see our daughter. Derek had been picking Mia and I up in the morning and we had been doing school drop off together. It was nice and domestic and felt good to have help like this.

Derek drove the familiar route and the car hummed steadily beneath us, the rhythmic sound of the tires on the asphalt almost comforting, like a gentle pulse that matched the beat of my heart. As we drove toward my parents' house, the world outside was a blur of sun-dappled streets and the occasional flicker of trees, the late afternoon light casting long shadows across the dashboard. But my thoughts weren't on the scenery. They were on Derek.

He glanced over at me, and I could feel his gaze, steady and warm. I tried to focus on the road ahead, but his presence was a pull I couldn't ignore. There was something in the way he was looking at me—something I hadn't felt in a long time. Hopeful. Determined. A promise. It was the kind of look that made my chest tighten and my heart flutter, even after everything we'd been through.

"You know, I've been thinking a lot lately," he said, his voice steady but tinged with that familiar sincerity that made me feel like I could trust him with everything.

I raised an eyebrow, teasing lightly. "That's dangerous. What are you thinking about?"

He smiled, that lopsided grin I loved, but there was something else in his eyes, something deeper. "Well, we've been talking about Mia and how we can give her the best life possible… And, you know, I think it's time we start thinking about the future—about our future. Together."

I felt my stomach flip at the word "future." I glanced at him, my voice quieter now, more curious. "What do you mean?"

He seemed to gather his thoughts for a moment before continuing. "I mean, I've been thinking about the idea of moving closer to Susan and Thatcher. About us eventually settling down buying a home together, where we can both breathe, where Mia can grow up in a stable, loving environment with both of us fully present."

I stared at him for a second, the weight of his words sinking in. It felt like my heart was catching in my throat. I hadn't expected this, not in this way, but as the words settled around us, a small spark of hope ignited inside me. This could work. We could make this work.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek for a moment, unsure of how to feel. "That sounds... really nice. But... is it practical? I mean this is so new."

"Meredith, this is ancient" the way he said those words lit my heart on fire.

His expression softened, and he glanced at me briefly before returning his focus to the road. "I think we've proven we can handle change. And, Meredith, we've been through the chaos, the storms—we survived that. Now, we're in a place where we can build something. Not just for us, but for Mia and hopefully for more." he said softly.

"We are," I said quietly, more to myself than to him. "We've been to hell and back, haven't we? But now, it feels like we're actually in the clear. Like life can be good now."

He nodded, a smile tugging at his lips as his hand reached over to mine, finding my fingers and giving them a gentle squeeze. "Exactly. I'm not saying it'll be easy, or that we'll have everything figured out overnight. But what I am saying is we can start looking forward."

His words filled me with something I hadn't expected—hope. Real hope. For the longest time, I had been afraid of what moving forward might mean, afraid of repeating the mistakes of the past. But with him... with Derek... it felt different. We weren't just surviving anymore. We were ready to build, to create something real.

I turned my hand over in his, intertwining our fingers, the warmth of his touch grounding me. "You're right."

Derek's gaze softened as he turned to look at me for a moment. "I want to mold our lives together. I want us to have the space, the time, to really be a family."

The word "family" echoed in my mind, a soft, sweet sound that made my chest tighten. I had never been able to fully believe that we could be a family—not in the way he meant. But as I sat there, his hand still holding mine, I realized that maybe this was it. Maybe this was the beginning of the family I had always wanted but never truly thought I could have.

"A family," I whispered, the word tasting foreign but sweet. "I like the sound of that."

He grinned, that familiar, boyish grin I loved, his voice teasing but warm. "Well, I'm glad. Because I think we're there."

I squeezed his hand, my heart full of that quiet, hopeful certainty. I believe him.

"I think I'm ready," I said softly, my eyes on him, on us, on the future we were finally starting to shape together. "For whatever comes next."

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and I saw everything I had been waiting for—the promise of a life shared, a future forged together.

"Me too," he said, his voice thick with emotion, his hand squeezing mine again as we pulled up to my parents' house.

The car came to a stop, and for a moment, neither of us moved. Derek brought my hand to his lips and kissed it softly.

"Let's go have dinner with our daughter" I told him and he agreed.

Everything felt simple and perfect and extraordinary.

Derek's POV

I worked through the night Friday into Saturday and slept off my exhaustion in an on-call room as I could barely keep my eyes open as I made it out of surgery at 3am Saturday morning. At noon I woke up, with the rest of the day off before needing to be back all day Sunday. Meredith and I both had a busy week and haven't been able to see eachother much at the end of our weeks compared to the beginning and I wanted to catch up with her and Mia. I missed them.

I called her and we made plans to spend the rest of the day together with Mia. Susan and Thatcher were out antiquing and it gave us the opportunity to have the day to ourselves. Lexi would be coming by later in the evening and I figured that likely meant I'd get to catch up with Mark. They were seeing each other. It was strange.

It was the perfect summer day and Mia was hula hooping outside with Meredith sitting with her, her hands absentmindedly playing with chalk as she watched our daughter twirl and twirl. Her body clad in a white tank top and shorts and she grinned as our daughter saw me and I scooped her quickly in my arms.

I felt Mia's small arms wrap around my neck as I lifted her, her laughter filling the air like music. Meredith looked up at us with a soft smile, her eyes a little tired but warm as always. "You're just in time," she said, running a through her hair, the sunlight catching strands of it in a way that made it look like a

I set Mia down, and she immediately darted off to get her hula hoop again. I stood for a moment, watching her, before walking over to Meredith. She leaned back against the porch step, giving me a look that was both tender and a little playful.

"How are you holding up?" she asked, We hadn't been able to really talk much in the past few days—between my shifts and her schedule, time together had been scarce.

I shrugged, feeling the weight of the week's surgeries still hanging on my shoulders. "Survived," I said with a small grin. "I'm better now"

Meredith's lips curled into a smile, her eyes softening as she glanced up at me. "Well," she said, her voice warm, "we're glad you're here now."

I slid down beside her on the step, the cool air of the afternoon brushing against my skin as I settled in. I watched Mia spin around again in a flurry of motion, her energy seemingly boundless. Meredith sighed beside me, her fingers absentmindedly tracing a doodle in the chalk on the pavement—an imperfect, but lovely flower.

"Me too," I murmured, feeling the weight of the past week lift just a little. "What have you two been up to today?"

Before Meredith could answer, Mia bounded over and plopped herself down on my lap with a joyful giggle.

"Mommy and me had eggs for breakfast," she said, her voice full of excitement. "And then she took me to get new shoes! Look!" Mia grinned proudly, pointing down at the pair of bright pink, sparkly sneakers on her feet.

I couldn't help but smirk at Meredith, knowing our daughter was such a girly girl a complete contrast to her mother.

"They're perfect," I said, my voice dripping with excitement as I ran my hand over Mia's shoe. "I think they're going to make you the fastest runner ever."

Mia's eyes widened as she bounced up and down in my lap, her new sneakers glittering in the sunlight. "I'm gonna beat you in a race, Daddy!" she declared, her little hands lifting triumphantly.

Meredith laughed softly, her gaze tender as she watched Mia. "You're not the only one who's proud of those shoes," she teased, her voice laced with affection.

I laughed and gave Mia a quick hug, squeezing her tightly. "I have no doubt. I'm already starting to get worried," I said, my heart full. "You're going to leave me in the dust."

Mia's giggle filled the air as she squirmed out of my arms, ready to race off again. But for a moment, I stayed seated next to Meredith, letting the peacefulness of the afternoon wrap around me. It was in these small moments—these simple, beautiful pieces of our lives—that I realized I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

"And then we colored and hula hooped!"

Meredith's smile widened as she watched Mia's enthusiasm. "Yep, and then we had some quality time trying to figure out how to make the hula hoop stay up. Mia has her own ideas about the rules," she teased, glancing at our daughter, who was now tugging at the laces of her new shoes.

Mia looked up at us, eyes wide and full of that innocent curiosity she always had. "I'm really good at hula hooping, Daddy! I can do it super fast!" she exclaimed, giving the hoop a few twirls in the air to demonstrate. The hoop didn't last long before it fell, but that didn't stop her from grinning proudly.

I laughed "You sure can, baby," I said with a smile, my eyes shifting to Meredith. "Seems like you two have had a productive day."

"There is much more day to be had. I'm about to make lunch" Meredith told me playfully.

"Lunch? Hmm, Well I'm starving" I told Meredith with a grin.

"Me too daddy!" Mia chimed in.

Meredith smiled, her eyes twinkling with that playful spark I loved so much. "Well, it looks like I have two hungry people on my hands," she said, getting to her feet and brushing off the grass from her shorts. "I guess I'd better get to work."

Mia, still full of energy, scrambled up to follow her, her new sneakers squeaking on the pavement as she ran ahead. "Can we have sandwiches, Mommy?" she called out, already knowing the answer.

Meredith looked over her shoulder, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips. "We can. Are you gonna help me?"

Mia nodded enthusiastically.

I leaned back against the porch, watching them both walk into the kitchen, the soft hum of Meredith's voice carrying in the air as she started pulling out ingredients. Mia bounced beside her, chattering a mile a minute about how she was going to have the biggest sandwich ever.

I took a moment to just breathe it all in—watching Meredith and Mia together, the way they moved in sync with one another. There was a sense of calm in their presence, something I could never quite put into words.

I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms and giving Meredith a grin that I knew she wouldn't be able to resist. "You know, if you need help, I'm more than capable in the kitchen," I teased, taking a slow step closer, my gaze lingering on her. "Or, I could just watch you work. You look pretty good doing that."

Meredith glanced over her shoulder at me, a knowing smile on her lips. "Is that so?" she said, her voice laced with humor, as she spread mustard on the bread with a casual precision. "Maybe I'll just let you handle cutting up the fruit then? You're better at cutting than flirting."

"Flirting, huh?" I raised an eyebrow, inching closer. "I don't know, I think I'm pretty good at both." I stepped to her side, brushing against her arm ever so slightly as I reached for the apples. "But if you want me to show you how good I am, I'd be happy to give you a demonstration."

Meredith's eyes flicked to mine, and I could see a hint of something mischievous there. "Oh, I have no doubt. But you'll have to wait for dessert for that."

Mia's voice suddenly cut through the moment, her tone exuberant as she climbed onto a kitchen stool, looking up at us. "Can we have extra cheese on mine, Mommy?" she asked, her eyes wide, trying to get Meredith's attention with the full force of her cuteness.

I chuckled, pulling back from Meredith just enough to acknowledge Mia. "Extra cheese sounds like a great idea. What do you think, Mer?"

Meredith laughed as she carefully placed the sandwiches on the pan. "I think we can do that." She flashed me a playful look before turning her attention to the sizzling sound of the bread meeting the pan.

I watched her for a moment, feeling that familiar warmth in my chest, knowing she was the center of our little world. I kneeled down beside Mia, who was now busy arranging her napkin just right. "You excited for lunch, kiddo?" I asked, brushing her hair from her face with a smile.

"Yes, Daddy!" Mia replied, bouncing on her stool. "And then after lunch, I wanna go outside again. Maybe we can race! With my new shoes!"

I grinned at her excitement. "Sounds like a plan. But you might just be too fast for me now."

"I will be!" she said with a proud little nod.

Meredith leaned against the counter, watching the two of us, a soft smile playing at her lips. "You know, you're both so cute it almost makes my heart ache," she said, her voice low and full of affection.

I looked at her, feeling the tenderness in the moment. "It's easy to be cute when I have such a beautiful family here waiting for me."

Meredith rolled her eyes, but there was warmth there. "You're ridiculous."

We finished lunch trying not to flirt too much more in front of our daughter and spent the afternoon outside playing in the sun. We settled down to watch Mia's favorite princess movie later in the afternoon. By the time the opening credits were rolling, Mia had curled up in my lap, her little head resting against my chest, and within minutes, her breathing had slowed, becoming deep and even. I glanced at Meredith, who had already leaned back against the armrest, her eyes half-closed as the movie played on.

The house was quiet except for the low hum of the TV and the soft rhythm of Mia's breathing. I could tell Meredith wasn't really watching anymore, her attention somewhere between the screen and the quiet that had settled .around us

"She's out," Meredith murmured, eyes flicking to Mia. Her voice was low, almost like she didn't want to disturb the peace.

I shifted carefully, trying not to wake Mia, and nodded. "Yeah. Do you think she senses that we're together?" I asked Meredith quietly.

"Maybe, she hasn't said anything but I think she likes it."

I smiled and leaned in to kiss Meredith gently "I like it too" I told her softly.

Mia shifted in my lap, her tiny sigh breaking the momentary silence. Meredith's attention flicked back to her, a soft smile on her lips as she reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The easy way we moved around each other—without thinking, without trying—was something that could never be replaced.

Meredith and I leaned against each other on the couch watching our daughter's favorite princess movie as she slept in my arms for a while. Both enjoying one another, not worried about work or schedules or where we had to be next.

The front door creaked open, the sound of laughter and voices carrying through the house. I felt the shift immediately, that small disturbance that pulled us out of the bubble we'd been living in. Mia didn't stir, still wrapped up in the warmth of her nap, but Meredith and I both glanced toward the door instinctively.

"Looks like Lexi and Mark are here," Meredith said softly, her hand still resting against my knee, as though she wasn't quite ready to let go of the moment.

I nodded, but I wasn't in a rush to move either. It was too easy, too good, this rare slice of quiet time with Meredith and Mia.

A moment later, we heard footsteps in the hall, and Lexi's voice rang out, followed by Mark's laugh. "Hello?" Lexi called playfully from the doorway, her head poking around the corner.

Meredith gave a small sigh, but her smile was genuine. "In here," she said, leaning back on the couch as I shifted slightly to make room for the others.

Mark walked in first, looking around. "Nice to see the happy little family," he said with a teasing grin. He stopped when he saw Mia, asleep in my arms, and his smile softened. "Wow. She's out cold."

I gave a half-shrug, trying not to disturb Mia as I adjusted her slightly in my lap. "It's been a busy day for her. She'll probably wake up a bit bouncing off the walls again."

Lexi moved further into the living room, leaning against the doorframe with a grin. "That's what kids do, right? They take five-minute power naps and then act like they've had ten cups of coffee."

I laughed, glancing at Meredith, who chuckled in agreement. "You're not wrong there," she said.

Mark grabbed a beer like he owned the place and Lexi took in the sight of the movie.

"Her favorite," she said with a smile.

Eventually, Susan and Thatcher made it back from antiquing. Mia, still riding the high of her nap, was already buzzing with energy, her eyes wide as she turned to look toward the door.

"Mommy! Grandpa! Grandma!" she yelled, running toward the entryway before they could even make it past the hallway.

I chuckled, watching her go. "She should be a surgeon. Her energy levels are insane."

Meredith gave me a quiet smile, her hand resting gently on the back of the couch as she adjusted herself.

Thatcher and Susan entered the living room with a few bags in tow, looking as if they had just come back from a treasure hunt.

"We got some good stuff," Thatcher said, grinning. "Found an old lamp, and Susan insists it's a 'vintage gem.'"

"A vintage gem," I teased, looking at Susan, who gave me a playful were starting to get a little better.

"You'll see," she said, setting the bags down on the kitchen table, her eyes twinkling as if she had a secret. "It's all about the charm, Derek."

I leaned back on the couch, giving Meredith a sidelong glance. "Charm, huh?"

She shrugged, a teasing smile forming at the corners of her lips. "You'd be surprised."

I raised an eyebrow at her, the playful tension between us settling into a quiet hum. She was still wearing that soft look from earlier, the one she always got when things felt... easy between us. She caught my glance and immediately tried to hide her grin, which only made me smile wider.

"Alright, everyone," Susan said, clapping her hands together. "We're starving. What's for dinner?"

Thatcher, looking as though he was itching to unpack his finds, started toward the kitchen. "I'll set the table. You guys figure out who's picking up dinner."

"Lexi should be back any minute with dinner," Meredith let them know and from the kitchen, Lexi came in carrying a few bags of takeout, her eyes bright. "We got enough to feed an army, and some dessert too."

Mia's face lit up as soon as she saw the boxes. "Yay! Pizza!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

"Pizza and pasta," Lexi corrected her, setting the bags down. "And some garlic bread—if you're lucky."

Susan and Thatcher both made a beeline for the food, while I scooted over on the couch, pulling Mia into my lap as I helped Meredith stand. She took my hand as she stood up, and I felt a small thrill in the simple gesture, though I tried to keep my expression neutral.

Dinner was a lively affair. Mia couldn't stop making jokes, keeping the whole table entertained with her innocent humor. At one point, she had everyone laughing as she pretended to talk to her "invisible friend" while holding a piece of garlic bread up to her ear like it was a phone.

"Hello?" she said in her best dramatic voice. "Yes, I'll take two orders of extra cheese! Oh, and a side of—" She glanced at the bread. "—garlic! Yup, that's it. Thanks, Pizza Man!"

Everyone burst out laughing, even Thatcher, who had a rare moment of visible joy as he wiped his eyes. I glanced over at Meredith, who was trying to hide her smile behind her glass of water. Her eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I could tell she was enjoying this just as much as I was, even if we were both playing it cool.

But I couldn't help myself. I leaned in just a little, close enough that only she would hear. "I want you" I whispered, my lips brushing her ear lightly.

Meredith's eyes flicked toward me, and for a moment, there was that spark between us again, a connection only we understood. She didn't say anything, but I could feel the small shift in the air—the subtle way she leaned into me just a little.

"You're going to get us in trouble," she muttered, but I could hear the smile in her voice.

"So?," I replied, my tone low, teasing.

The conversation at the table shifted again as Mia moved on to the next round of jokes, but I couldn't quite tear my attention away from Meredith. There was something about how natural it felt, being here with her, in this moment, with no pressure, no distractions—just the easy rhythm of our family. I had to admit, it was more than I had expected when I'd imagined what life would look like after everything that had happened.

Mia eventually got distracted by dessert—chocolate mousse cups, which had everyone eagerly reaching for the spoons. As Thatcher and Susan debated over who had the bigger slice of chocolate cake, I found myself leaning in close to Meredith again, our shoulders brushing as I reached for my dessert.

"Bet I can make you come again" I whispered, my voice just above a murmur as I stroked her thigh.

"Derek," she said, her voice soft but warning. "We're at the dinner table."

I leaned back slightly, eyes sparkling. "What? You think I can't keep it together or you can't"

"I can" she said, trying to suppress another grin. "You forget the power I have to give you a hard on"

I laughed, a low chuckle that only she could hear. "You've got me there"

As the evening wore on, the small glances and touches between Meredith and me became almost second nature. It was like we didn't need to hide it—this small, quiet flirtation, the one that wasn't about grand gestures but just being present with each other. Life felt good and th

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