In my bones

Chapter 4

by @sunset543 on Fanfuction.net. Disclaimer: I don't own any of Grey's Anatomy. Not the characters. Not the plot. Not anything. Nor do I own anything to do with the NHL. At all. But it would be pretty cool if I did.

It was Sunday, that meant that Derek was on his way to his childhood home in Seattle for his family's weekly dinner. Normally, Mark and himself couldn't make it, as they were usually playing somewhere far away. But this week, he had been in San Jose, which, really, was as close as he was going to get. He drew up to the house and saw that everybody else was already here. Kathleen and Noah were always first, he wasn't sure how she could always be so organised with three kids, but he guessed she had perfected it by now.

He walked through the front door and was welcomed by his mom who drew him into a hug almost immediately. Carolyn Shepherd was a mom, she had some internal skill that made sure she had raised the best kids possible.

"Ma," he greeted.

"Derek, how are you? You look well. I haven't seen you for so long."

"I know," he sighed, "but I'm here now, and I'm moving here pretty soon, you know that" he hugged her.

"I know," she rubbed his back, "but a mom can still miss her son."

He smiled back at her.

"Derbear," Amy announced. Technically her name was Amelia, but he was the only one allowed to call her Amy, and he took full advantage of it.

"Amy! How's little Kate doing?"

His youngest sister sighed, "She's still not kicking. And I know she shouldn't be yet, but I really want her to," she rubbed circles on her more swollen stomach.

"It'll come," he smiled, mimicking the gesture. "Where's that idiot husband of yours?"

"He's out the back with the rest of the brothers-in-law, they're scraping together the leaves for the kids to jump in.

"The twins' idea?" he asked.

"Who else's?" she laughed.

He walked into the living room finding Kathleen, Nancy and Liz already in there. Audrey was sat more to the side with Ella and Hailey, Logan, Andrew and Liam were probably playing Xbox somewhere. Audrey was Kathleen's oldest at 16, the oldest of them all. The three aforementioned boys were Kathleen's and Nancy's, they were sport obsessed and loved that two of their uncles played such a brutal sport. Although Logan, Kathleen's son, seemed more into baseball. Ella was Logan and Audrey's younger sister and got on with Liz's youngest Hailey as they were practically the same age. Nat was being cradled by Amelia, now in the armchair, she was only one, and his little sister was pregnant with another princess. His family was ever growing and now he couldn't help but see Meredith here with Aiden. He shook his head in perceptively, he really needed to stop this!

He greeted them quickly and went out to the back where Liz's twins were arguing who should go first. Jack, Liz's husband, was unsuccessfully trying to settle it. Derek stole a glance at Link who was clearly thinking the same thing. Link was a proper jock along with Mark and himself, playing in the MLB for Seattle Mariners. They both took off running and jumped into the pile of leaves before the twins could.

They high fived and laughed as the twins jumped on them anyway. "Ah, Elliot," Link laughed. Derek rolled over and started tickling Lucas mercilessly, "No, Uncle Derek, stop," the little boy giggled.

"What? I can't hear you," Derek teased. Link did the same to Elliot and both of the boys rolled in the leaves in desperation at the mercy of their athletic uncles.