The Seventh Sense is Love

Birthday Boy

Meredith and Derek had more trial patients over the following six months. With each one, they knew they were closer to successfully eradicating the brain tumors and giving their patients a chance at longer and happier lives. Each patient who died was equally hard on them as Doctors and human beings. However, with Ian's first birthday upon them - they put work completely aside for a weekend and focused purely on family.

"I can't believe he is a year old already." Meredith whispered in awe as she and Derek looked in on their sleeping baby the morning of his birthday.

"I know," Derek replied, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. He kissed the top of her head and asked, "Should we wake him?"

"I thought about it," she said and then turned her face to lean up and kiss her husband. "It's going to be a fun but long day for him."

"Come on then," Derek grinned and pulled his softly laughing wife out of their sons room and back to their own. They were kissing, rolling around in their bed and starting to get naked when they heard Ian talking in his bed. Derek nuzzled Meredith's breasts and groaned.

"He's great birth control," Meredith laughed and gave her husband a noisy kiss on the mouth. "Tonight, big boy."

He laughed and hugged her tight - knowing she'd keep her word about later that night. One of many things that made him happy about their marriage was that he and Meredith had never fallen into the 'too tired to have sex' routine. He knew that a lot of couples did - and could even understand why especially after a really long surgery or during the agonizing nights with a teething baby. "I'll start the coffee and have a shower while you and Ian have your time together."

Meredith was still breast-feeding Ian twice a day; in the morning when he awoke and shortly before bedtime. She knew that it was almost time to stop with the breast feedings altogether, but she was finding it difficult. She enjoyed the quiet cuddle time with Ian as much as he liked the milk. She and Derek had decided to continue with Ian's feedings for another month and then stop. They thought thirteen months seemed like a good timeframe. Plus, they were starting to talk about adding to their little family and giving Ian his baby sisters. Meredith wanted some time where her body was hers again; before going through another round of pregnancy and breast feeding.

"Happy Birthday, my sweet boy," Meredith said to Ian as she walked back into his room.

He pulled himself to a standing position in his crib and reached out for her. "Ma ma ma ma ma," he said and melted her heart in a big puddle.

"Oh, how I love you," she told him and scooped him up for a huge hug. "I wonder if you are going to be neat with your cake today or just pound on it."

Ian babbled away to his mom while she changed his diaper and zipped him back into his pajamas. Then they sat in the glider while he drank happily and quickly. After drinking both sides, he sat up in her lap and babbled again as he patted her face.

"I think you know today is special. Let's go see Daddy."

The mention of Daddy made Ian squeal with delight and wiggle off of Mer's lap. Then he reached up to her with his mini-Derek smile. She reached down to take his little hands in hers so he could practice his walking down the hallway. As soon as they reached the living room and he saw Daddy, that was the end of that. He let go of Meredith's hands and slid to the floor to speed-crawl across the floor, babbling excitedly.

Derek grinned at the sight of his son and got up from reading the newspaper on the couch to scoop his son off the floor. "Good morning Birthday boy," he said and kissed the little boys cheek. "You smell like Mommy and milk." he grinned as Meredith walked over to kiss them both. Then she said, "Coffee first, then I want a shower, too."

They spent a leisurely morning together after she finished her shower. They took turns reading the newspaper and children's books aloud. They had breakfast together and then sat together on the floor to build with blocks and race little toy cars. At eleven they started decorating for Ian's party and putting the food out. Shortly before everyone was due to arrive, Derek grabbed Meredith and kissed her again. She laughed and said, "I remember a time - not too long ago - when you and I were dreading kids birthday parties."

Derek laughed and said, "Now we're throwing one."

"The first of many," she said. She turned to nuzzle his cheek. "What do you say about us trying to give Ian a sibling in a few months?"

He laughed and tried to whisk her down the hallway. "I say practice makes perfect."

Meredith kissed him thoroughly when the doorbell rang. She laughed and stated, "We'll practice later." Then they both scooped their son from his playing on the floor and went to answer the door.