Family life

On the right path

Today was Oscars birthday and Derek wasn't with him. It was the morning and he should be putting out the presents with Meredith and then going up together to wake him up. Yet here he was, back in his moms house and alone.

He had become a father three years ago today. A smile graced his face as he looked at photos on his phone from that day, a new born Oscar lay peacefully in Meredith's arms as Derek looked down on them lovingly. He had his mother to thank for this photo.

Deciding he couldn't lie in bed any longer, he pushed himself up and headed down stairs. Walking into the kitchen, he smiled sadly at his mother and watched as she frowned.

"Derek, what are you still doing here?" Carolyn placed her tea towel down and placed her hands on her hips.

"What? I'm staying here." He reached for a banana and began peeling it, when he felt Carolyns hand slap him around the back of the head. "Ma, what the hell!" Derek exclaimed.

"It's your sons birthday! Your son! Yet here you are, wallowing in self pity. I mean, maybe Meredith should leave you." Carolyn shrugged her shoulders and turned around, listening as Derek pushed his chair out and stormed upstairs.

Next thing he knew, he was driving to their house. Or Meredith's house. He didn't even know anymore. Pulling into the drive, he smiled as he saw the banners and balloons decorating the outside. Taking a deep breath, he pushed his car door open and walked round to his boot.

Taking out the few presents he had picked up, he walked towards the front door and pushed it open.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Derek shouted as he stepped in, feeling nervous.

"It's daddy! Daddy's home!" Oscar squealed as he ran round the corner, in his new Spider-Man suit. Derek crouched down and pulled him into his arms.

"Happy birthday Oscar." Derek squeezed him right, breathing him in. Looking over Oscars shoulder, he saw Willow crawling quickly towards them.

"Dadada!" She chanted over and over again. When she finally reached him, he bundled her into his arms and squeezed his kids right, he had missed this more then anything.

"Hmm." Looking up, he saw Meredith standing at the kitchen door, green and blue finally meeting. "Hey." She smiled at him.

"Hey." He placed the kids down, before standing up straight. "How are we?" He shoved his hands in his pockets, this was awkward. They weren't awkward.

"Tired. I'm not sleeping." She shrugged her shoulders, biting her lower lip. "Can you come in here? I need your help with something." Derek watched as she tried not to laugh.

"Yeah course." He smirked at her, watching as the kids moved into the living room, playing with their toys. Following Meredith into the kitchen, eyes going wide at the bombshell in front of him.

"Mer, what the..." he tried not to burst out into laughter.

"Don't you dare laugh!" She pointed her finger towards him before they both broke out into a fit of laughter. "I just wanted to make Oscar a cake, but..." she held her hands up at the mess in front of them.

"Mer, you know you can't bake right?" He asked sarcastically as he walked closer.

"Stop laughing and help me." She playfully pushed his shoulder, glad to be in one another's presence.

"This is beyond help, so it's a good job I brought a cake, it's out in the hall." Derek turned and smiled at her, realising how close they were.

"I'm glad you are here." Meredith reached out and placed her hand on his arm, squeezing it tight.

"Dada!" Oscar ran into the kitchen. "Come! Come!" Oscar reached out and took Derek's large, warm hand and dragged him towards the living room.

Derek spent the day with the kids, Oscar opening his presents before the candles on the cake were lit and finally blew out. Meredith cleaned up the kitchen, leaving Derek to spend as much time with the kids. When she was finished cleaning, she walked into the living room and stopped when she saw them. Oscar and Willow were curled tightly into Derek's arms as they all slept peacefully on the couch.

Meredith knew the kids were hurting in all of this, missing having Derek round but she had to get better. Derek deserved better then her. She was self destructing and she didn't want to drag him down with her.

Walking over she pulled Willow out of Derek's arms, watching as his eyes went wide.

"Hey." Meredith whispered. "I'm just taking Willow to bed, don't worry." She reached out and quickly ran her fingers through his hair before turning to head upstairs.

Derek kept his eyes on Meredith retreating figure as she headed upstairs before turning to Oscar who was rubbing his eyes.

"Hey, little man." Derek smiled before smoothing down his curls.

"Dada, you here. Me miss you." Oscar smiled at him before wrapping his little arms tight around Derek's neck.

"I miss you too. All of you." Derek kissed the top of his head, listening to his breathing as it softened out again. Knowing he was falling asleep again, he pushed himself up and carried him upstairs and to his room.

Placing Oscar down, he could hear Willow cries of protest of going to bed, heading down the hall he slowly pushed open the door.

"Hey Mer, is she alright?" Derek asked a flustered Meredith.

"She's been like this for the past few days, cries every time I try to put her down. I don't know what to do." Meredith looked at him with pleading eyes, bouncing her on her hip.

"Here, give her to me." Derek reached out and took her into his arms. "You go to bed, I'll put her down and then head off." He forced a half smile at her, watching as her shoulders relax.

Willow held on tight to Derek's top, as he cries finally slowed down and turned into whimpers. Meredith stood on and watched as Derek comforted her, he really was the best father for their kids. She wasn't even aware that Willow was asleep until Derek had guided her out of the room with his hand on her lower back.

"She's asleep, think she might be having another tooth coming through. You should head to bed and sleep." He reached out and pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "I should head out, see you." Derek smiled and turned away.

He stopped when he felt Meredith grab his hand.

"Don't." Derek frowned before looking back up. "I mean stay, if you want. I mean, you don't have to..." Meredith was cut off when Derek pressed his lips to hers.

"The rambling, I've missed it but it's not needed, I'd love to stay. You don't have to ask me twice. But we will need to talk tomorrow." He placed his hand on her cheek. "Come on, let's go to bed." He pressed the kiss to the top of her head.

Together they headed to bed and stayed tangled in one another's arms. Words needed to be exchanged and things needed to be cleared up, this wasn't it. Both of them refused to walk away from this.