Ever The Same

38

"I can't believe this pregnancy is almost half over." Derek said, as he and his mother were cooking dinner at her house, waiting for Meredith to arrive after a day out with Izzie.

"It goes by fast." Mrs. Shepherd adjusted her glasses before putting a dash more of garlic into the sauce. "First the stick turns blue and then the bump arrives...before you know it you're holding a baby in your arms and you're completely unsure of what to do with it."

"Thanks Mom. That's...real encouraging." Derek laughed.

"You and Meredith will be great at it."

"It's scary...I don't want to drop him...or screw him up."

"Derek."

"It's a reasonable fear."

"You have never dropped or screwed up any of your sister's children." His mother added, reaching for a spoon as she looked to her son. "You're going to be a great father.'

"Thanks Mom." Derek smiled, kissing his mother's cheek.

"I must say...I really thought your first baby was going to be a girl."

"So did Meredith. And Izzie...and our entire family."

"That probably just means you've been gifted a boy to look after all of his little sisters."

"One...little sister."

"You say that now."

"Meredith must have said to me about a million times that she's only going through this one more time." Derek chuckled, taking plates out of the cabinet.

"It's a Shepherd thing...we say one thing and end up with at least three more children." The older woman chuckled.

"We'll see about that."

"Oh you will."

"We're just going to take care of Sam first. It's going to be a little while before there's another one."

"Those were famous last words before there were five of you." Mrs. Shepherd laughed, turning on the oven.

"I don't think Mer is going to let me near her until Sam is at least six months." Derek laughed.

"Sam is going to keep you two pretty busy...is he sleeping in the nursery right away?"

"We haven't really decided that yet."

"Well whatever you do make sure you have a baby monitor."

"I think Meredith already bought one."

"And you've tested it to make sure it works on all ends of the house...and in the front and back yard."

"No..."

"Derek you two need to work on that...you don't want to be stuck with a faulty monitor once the baby is here. You'll have absolutely no time to worry about returns and testing a new one once he's crying."

"We have four months." Derek replied, beginning to lay down the lasagna noodles in the pan.

"Four very fast months."

"We'll take care of it."

"Have you two started planning the nursery style? Have you picked a theme?"

"Blue walls...ocean theme."

"So I assume you've made a list of everything you need."

"A list?"