The Seventh Sense is Love

How Was Dinner?

Meredith walks into a quiet and mostly dark house. She hangs up her coat and then goes in search of her husband. She smiles when she finds him in bed with his headphones on - listening to something. Perfect, she thinks and slips back into the kitchen to open the CD of What to Expect When You're Expecting.

"Meredith?"

"Hi," she answers as she walks back toward their bedroom and meets Derek in the hallway.

"I thought you were home," he smiles and bends his head to kiss his wife on her smiling mouth. "How was dinner?"

"Really nice," she answers and takes his hand to go back to their bedroom. "I was emotional about it all, of course."

"I'm sure the whole table was teary and emotional," Derek teases.

"Yeah," Meredith giggles. "Especially your sister."

"There's a shock."

"Be nice." Meredith giggles again. "Kathleen is really happy for us."

"I am being nice." Derek answers.

"Do you mind if I unplug your earphones? I have something I want you to hear."

"Of course not," he answers with a somewhat puzzled frown.

Meredith removes the music CD he'd been listening to and puts in the first of the baby book series. Her heart is pounding nervously for some odd reason. She moves to sit on the bed as the CD starts. She watches Derek's face for his reaction more than she listens to what's being said.

After a few moments of listening intently Derek turns to face his wife. He's a little choked up when he says, "This is a CD about our pregnancy."

"It is," she smiles and moves into his now open arms. She snuggles into him and they both get comfortable on the bed as they listen quietly to the introduction.

"Thank you for getting that for me to listen to with you." Derek says after using the remote to turn the stereo off.

"You're welcome," Meredith answers. "Molly offered to give me her book to read but I thought you might want to hear what the book has to offer, too."

"I definitely do." he agrees with a grin and a vigorous nod of his head. "What?" he asks when Meredith giggles.

"Kathleen says you'll listen ahead while I'm at work and then school me on the content."

"No, I won't," Derek says, sounding just a bit hurt.

"It's okay if you do, Derek."

"I won't. I don't want to listen ahead. We're in this together, Meredith. I can't be pregnant -"

Meredith started giggling with delight at that.

"Listen," he said with a grin and cupped her face in the palms of his hands. "I want to be involved in every way that I'm able. Meredith, you are pregnant but it's our pregnancy. Our child."

"You're making me cry again," she sniffles and wraps her arms tightly around him.

Derek returns her hug and whispers, "I love you. I love our child. I know I didn't want a baby but I'm over that. I'm thrilled that we're having a baby together, Mer. I want to be involved every step of the way."

"Can I remind you of that when I'm dragging you to the store with me at 2 a.m. because of some bizarre craving?"

"Yes," he chuckles and kisses her again. "Do you think you'll have weird cravings?"

"Who knows but the possibility exists."

"Vanilla ice cream and ketchup," he teases.

"Okay," she sighs, "that's disgusting. Before you go on," she says when he gives a little boy grin. "Did you tell Mark?"

"Yeah," Derek grins. "Of course, he's proud of himself for figuring it out before us."

"Oh great," Meredith groans. "We're going to hear about that for a long time."

"The rest of our lives," Derek agrees.

"Baby," Meredith says and rubs her tummy, "your Uncle Mark is going to tell you all kinds of crazy stories but don't listen to him. Okay?"

"You said 'Uncle Mark'," Derek says, sounding touched again.

"Yeah well," she sighs, snuggling into her husband. "He is like your brother so I may as well get used to the idea of an honorary Uncle for Baby. Just don't tell Mark yet."

"Okay," Derek chuckles and kisses the top of her head tenderly