The Seventh Sense is Love

Let's Have a Baby

"Derek, are you all right?"

"Yes. Why, do I not seem all right?"

"Actually, you don't," answers Meredith. "You've been quiet and distracted all evening. Are you nervous about going back to work at the hospital?"

"Yes," Derek answers with a nod of his head, "but that's not what's been on my mind tonight."

"Oh," Meredith answers as her heart gives a nervous, uneasy jolt.

"I've been trying to think of the best way to tell you something."

"Just tell me," she says with a slight snap in her voice as her knees go weak and she needs to sit down. Insecure questions - that she didn't even know she was capable of having - start jumping around her head. Is Derek bored with her? Does he realize he doesn't need her now that he's going back to medicine?

"Meredith?"

"What?"

"Did you hear what I said? I expected some sort of reaction from you."

"No, I didn't hear you," she replies in a soft voice.

"Are you okay?" Derek asks, concern in his voice as he sits beside her on the couch.

"Please just tell me what you need to say."

Derek puts his hands on her cheeks, hearing the nervous fear in her voice. He kisses her softly on the mouth. Drawing the kiss out until he feels her start to relax in his arms. He pulls back slightly and whispers, "I love you, Mer. Let's have a baby."

She blinks, several times, certain she misunderstood her husband's words. "What?"

Chuckling, Derek replies, "I said, 'I love you. Let's have a baby.'"

"You love me."

"You know I do," he chuckles again.

"Let's have a baby?"

"Are you going to repeat everything I say?"

"No. Yes. Maybe. Damn it, I don't know! You don't want a baby, Derek! Why are you playing cruel games?" She jumps up from the couch and is about to stomp away when he grabs her and pulls her back to him.

"I'm not playing games," he says and kisses her again, hard and demanding. "I know this is coming out of left field..."

"It's a complete turn around, Derek."

"I know," he kisses her again, quick and soft. "I don't mean to be confusing. I just had a long talk with Kathleen today. She made me realize I'm being a ridiculous ass about not having a baby with you."

"Well," Meredith says as the nervous fear in her stomach turns to nervous excitement, "I wouldn't say 'ridiculous ass.' I understand why you'd be nervous about having a baby Derek. Are you sure? I meant it when I said I don't need a baby to feel complete with you. I just think and feel that our child would add to the happiness of our life."

"I'm positive, Mer. I wouldn't bring it up otherwise. I want us to have a child."

She starts giggling and kissing him all over his face, causing him to laugh. "I love you, Derek."

"I love you too, Mer."

"We don't have to try right away."

"Oh," he teases her, "now you have cold feet."

"No," she giggles, "I just want you to be happily acclimated at Seattle Grace before we have a baby."

"Yeah," he agrees with a nod of his head, "and it'd probably be a good idea for you to complete your Fellowship first."

"So, do you want to start trying for a baby at our first wedding anniversary?"

"Yes. I think we'll need lots of practice between now and then, though."

"Safe practice," she giggles, pulling her husband toward their bed.

"We're an ad for safety," he replies.

Meredith and Derek are both happy - and slightly in awe - with their decision to have a baby together. It feels as if another piece of the puzzle in their life is nicely in place.
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"I think that smile is tattooed to your face. It's disgusting."

"Hi Cristina," Meredith laughs.

"I miss the surly Meredith," Cristina grumbles.

"No you don't," Meredith says, shaking her head. "Do you have time for coffee?"

"Are you buying?"

"Yes," Meredith rolls her eyes.

"Then I have time for coffee," Cristina answers, finally smiling.

Meredith buys their coffee and they find a place to sit down together. They talk briefly about patients and surgeries. Then Cristina asks, "Are you ready for Derek to come to work here tomorrow?"

"Yes, definitely."

"I'm looking forward to what he has to teach. Neuro isn't my field but he was one of the best. Will he be all right with not cutting?"

"I don't know," Meredith answers. "I hope so, but only time is going to answer that question."

"I still don't know how you deal with him being blind," Cristina says in her blunt style.

"The majority of the time I don't even think about it, Cristina. My life is better with Derek in it. There were adjustments that had to be made but I didn't ever feel like I was sacrificing anything important."

"Love changes people," Cristina states.

"Often for the better. I hope you find that out for yourself."

Cristina snorts and states, "I'm content with my career."

"Is it enough for you?"

After a long hesitation Cristina answers, "It's enough for now."

Meredith nods her head and wonders if she should tell Cristina about hers and Derek's decision to have a baby. She decides she'll wait until they actually conceive. She's thankful for Cristina's friendship but she's also certain that her friend would have something negative to say about the future Shepherd baby. And Meredith doesn't want to hear anything negative. She wants to be happy with the idea of a little baby with Derek's curls.