A Healing Heart

Chapter 9

He understood why Meredith was hesitant about seeing his mother again, after all she did leave him in the dark for 5 tormenting years. But, in order for them to move forward and in order for Ellyse to be a part of his life as much as she was in hers, she needed to know his family and that started with informing his mother.

He hasn't seen Addison since the night before but she had text him and told him she way staying at a friends. He knew that something had to change because she couldn't carry on behaving this way if she was going to be around his daughter. In the last few weeks, his daughter had behaved better than Addison and that said a lot, they needed to find a way to work it out or... he didn't know what else, they just needed to figure it out because he loved Addison and he loved his daughter endlessly and if it came to a choice between the two of them, he'd choose his daughter without hesitation.

Pacing around his apartment with his phone in his hand he was thinking of what to say to his mother: "hey ma, so listen you have a granddaughter!", "hi ma, do you want to mind mine and Meredith's daughter when you mind Ethan too?", nope, this was going to be difficult. He picked up the courage after a few minutes and called the number he knew so well.

"Derek. How nice of you to call your mother every once in a while, I thought you'd forgotten about me and found a new mother." Carolyn said through the phone.

Derek rolled his eyes at her sarcastic comment.

"Hey ma, how are you?"

"I'm good dear, what about you, how's life treating you in the big apple?"

"It's good, it's really good. Addison and I just moved into our apartment a few weeks ago and everything is going good, perfect actually." He smiled.

"Wow, you sure sound happy... too happy in fact, what's going on?" She was too good.

"Nothing. How's my massive bunch of sisters and their tribes?" He asked with a laugh.

"They're all fine, Derek, did Lizzy tell you that Sophie is pregnant again?" She asked.

"What? No!" He said

"Oh, well yes, Sophie is having another baby."

"Of course she is." He joked.

"Watch your mouth Derek, that's your sister." Carolyn warned and Derek could already picture the face she was making down the phone.

"Sorry ma."

"Good, back to you. Tell me what's going on and don't say there's nothing going on because I can tell by your voice that there is." She lectured.

"I need to talk you you about something and I need you to just listen, okay?" He asked his voice beginning to shake.

"Okay, what is it?" She asked hearing him take a deep breath.

"A couple of weeks ago, just after we settled into our apartment I ran into Meredith." He. breathed.

He heard her gasp but Carolyn waited a few moments before responding to see if he would say anything more.

"Meredith? As in Meredith Grey?" She said shocked.

"Yeah." Her bit his lip anxiously.

"Did she- I mean, did she keep the baby?" She asked slowly.

"She did." He nodded.

"And?" She questioned.

"And now I have a beautiful 5 year old daughter called Ellyse. She's amazing ma, I didn't know I could love someone so much, but I do, she's my whole world." He breathed, his smile beaming as he spoke about his daughter.