The Seventh Sense is Love

Where is He Sleeping

"Meredith?"

"Where is your baby boy going to sleep?"

Meredith made a slightly dismayed sound but tried to cover it up as Kathleen's raised eyebrow. "In his bassinette on my side of the bed," Meredith answered.

"Which will be perfect for about three or four months." Kathleen smiled as her sister-in-laws scowl deepened. In the next moment, Meredith started crying and Kathleen wrapped her arms around her in a protective hug. "What's wrong?"

Fortunately, Meredith calmed down as quickly as she'd gotten worked up. She got two bottles of water from the kitchen for her and Kathleen. Then she said, "I know the baby needs a nursery."

"But?"

"Everything in this house is set up exactly the way Derek needs it to be. How can I ask him to change that?"

"Ask him?" Kathleen looked slightly irritated.

"Okay," Meredith gave a small laugh, "I don't mean ask - as in permission. It's just that the baby is already going to be a huge adjustment -"

"For both of you," Kathleen interrupted. "Meredith, I adore you. There are not enough words for me to express how grateful I am that Derek found you but where my new nephew is concerned - my brother can lump it."

Meredith started giggling and said, "Derek isn't being a pain about this. I haven't even brought it up."

Kathleen rubber Mer's belly and said, "This little boy needs his own room. Trust me - you're going to want him to have his own room. Even before he's born, you're going to need a place to put all the baby shower gifts."

"Baby shower - "Meredith paled.

"No objections," Kathleen laughed. "You're getting one, period. Your sisters and I have already started planning it. All you have to do is show up and enjoy."

"Okay, thanks."

A few minutes later Derek, Mark and David came into the house. "Hey Mer," he grinned and kissed her after she went and hugged him. "I brought reinforcements."

"Reinforcements?"

"He means free laborers," Mark said.

"You're getting fed," Derek interjected to his smartass best friend.

"For what?" Meredith asked.

"Well," Derek started and kept his arm around her waist, "we need a room for our son."

To Derek's dismay, Meredith burst into tears, while everyone else laughed. "Am I missing something?" Derek asked while hugging Mer tighter.

"We were just talking about the baby needing his own room," Kathleen explained and patted her brother's arm. "Good timing, brain man."

"Did you know about this?" Meredith finally asked Kathleen, after calming down again.

"No, not at all."

"So," Derek asked, "Which room do you want to turn into the nursery? Mark and David will clear it out while we start dinner. We even stopped for paint. I didn't think you'd object to a basic blue and we can add other stuff - fire engines, cars, boats - later. We'll go get that kind of stuff together. And we'll need a crib and a changing table -"

"Oh my God," Mark groaned but had a mile-wide grin on his face.

"Actually," Meredith giggled, "You're right about all that stuff. We'll go register for it because Kathleen, Lexie and Molly are apparently throwing us a baby shower.'

"Cool," Derek grinned, "Free food."

"Free food? Can I come, too?" Mark asked.

"Only if you're willing to play the shower games," Kathleen said seriously.

"Kath, I'm a surgeon. Picking the diaper with the fake poop in it doesn't bother me."

"What if you have to taste unlabeled baby food and try to identify it?"

"Gross," Derek, Mark and David all said in unison - making Meredith and Kathleen laugh heartily.

Derek asked, "Which room, Meredith?"

"Well," Meredith hedged and chewed her bottom lip.

"Is the paint still in the car?" Kathleen asked and motioned with her head for David and Mark to follow her outside. "We'll just go get it."

As soon as Derek heard the garage door shut, he turned to Meredith and said, "That wasn't an obvious retreat. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just -"

"Mer," he said and pulled her back to him for another hug and a quick kiss. "What?"

"I want this to be as easy as possible for you. I mean, I know being new parents will be an adjustment, but I mean in regard to transitioning the house. For you."

Derek rubbed her lower back and continued holding her tight. "Is that why you haven't said anything about the nursery?"

"Yes."

"I thought that was kind of odd," he admitted.

"I've been looking at baby furniture online and lusting after some of it. I can't believe how nice some of the baby stuff it, but yeah," she sighed, enjoying her impromptu back massage. "I just don't want this to be hard on you."

"I love you, Mer."

"I love you, too."

"I will make any necessary adjustments for you and our son. Thank you for thinking of me but please, stop worrying."

"Okay," she giggled, "I want the guest room to be converted to his nursery."

Derek laughed, "I guess you have been planning."

"It makes sense. We never use it and it's right next to our room. I want him close by once he's out of the bassinette."

"Me too," he said and kissed her again. Longer this time, moving his hands to run them through her hair. They were interrupted by a subtle clearing of the throat. "Later," Derek whispered and made her giggle. "All right," he said louder, "The guest room is becoming the nursery."